GREENSBORO, N.C. – Appalachian State jumped out to a 6-0 lead over UNCG and held on for a 6-2 win Saturday in the first of a three-game Southern Conference series at the UNCG Softball Stadium.
The Spartans (18-23, 6-7 SoCon), wearing pink jerseys for their Pack the Park Pink initiative to raise money and awareness for the American Cancer Society and Relay for Life, were stymied until the sixth inning. Down six runs, UNCG finally pushed across its first run with some small ball.
Freshman Aisha Figueroa was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning, then swiped second, her 19th steal of the season. One out later, redshirt senior Kaitlin Merkt singled up the middle to drive in Figueroa with UNCG's first run of the day. A walk to Alex Emeterio and a wild pitch put runners on second and third, and Heather Robb followed with another single up the middle to bring home Merkt.
ASU starter Hannah Dow would settle down, however, striking out the next two batters to escape further damage.
The Mountaineers (16-18, 9-5 SoCon) struck for a pair of runs in the first to quickly set the tone for the day. The Apps had runners on second and third before UNCG could record an out, as Katie Boyd drew a leadoff walk, Megan Rembielak followed with a bloop bunt single and each runner advanced on a wild pitch.
Meghan Smith's grounder knocked in Boyd with the day's first run, and Allie Cashion lifted a sacrifice fly foul down the left field line to bring in Rembielak.
Appalachian State blew it open in the third, with Rembielak reaching on an error to lead off the inning, Smith singling up the middle and Cashion hitting a home run out to left, again before UNCG could get an out.
The Apps added an insurance run in the fifth on Michelle Lighton's RBI double.
The Spartans, meanwhile, stranded seven runners on the day. Emeterio (2-for-2, walk) reached base three times but didn't score, while UNCG couldn't do anything with April Langley's leadoff single in the third, either. Kristen Gabel dropped in a bloop single to center with one out in the seventh, but the Spartans couldn't sustain the rally in dropping their fourth straight league contest.
Cashion led the Apps at the plate, going 2-for-3 with four RBI and two runs scored.
Dow (8-4) allowed two runs on six hits to grab the win, while Josie Felix (5-11) allowed five runs (four earned) on six hits in 3 innings to take the loss.
The series will wrap up Sunday with a doubleheader starting at noon at the UNCG Softball Stadium.
AGATE
Appalachian State 6, UNCG 2 (Apr 16, 2011 at Greensboro, N.C.)
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Appalachian State... 203 010 0 - 6 9 0 (16-18, 9-5 SoCon)
UNCG................ 000 002 0 - 2 6 1 (18-23, 6-7 SoCon)
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Pitchers: Appalachian State - Hannah Dow. UNCG - Josie Felix; Cory Mattson(4).
Win-Hannah Dow(8-4) Loss-Josie Felix(5-11) T-1:46 A-121
HR ASU - Allie Cashion (6).
- UNCG -
