BOONE, N.C.  – Appalachian State University softball dropped a pair to South Alabama on Saturday night in a conference doubleheader at the Swyassink/Lloyd Family Stadium.

After two time changes that saw the doubleheader get pushed back from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., the Apps (12-20, 0-8 SBC) got shut out by the Jaguars (22-12, 5-7 SBC) 4-0 in game one and slipped to USA 5-3 after holding the lead for five innings. Natalie Orcutt and Ally Walters turned in multiple-hit performances going 3-for-7 and 2-for-5 respectively. Orcutt continued her hitting streak extending it out to nine-straight ballgames, and in game two, both Walters and Jenny Dodd rocketed out their third home run of the season.

Three Mountaineers made appearances in the circle for 15.0 innings pitched, and App State struck out nine Jaguars and only walked three in game one.

Game One: South Alabama 4, App State 0

South Alabama's three-run third inning and tough pitching aided in blanking the Apps 4-0 in the opening game.

Vanessa Ciocatto neutralized the Jaguar defense posting two scoreless frames, but USA loaded the bases at the top of the third and scored three runs on a two-run RBI double and a RBI single.

The Apps tried to strike up some momentum offensively at the bottom of the fourth with Orcutt whacking out a double to dead center and Walters reaching on a hit by pitch, but the Mountaineers couldn't connect to bring the two home.

In the following inning, the Mountaineers threatened to score again with Keri White drawing a walk and Sidney Russell smacking a single to put two one, but App Sate was stopped short of scoring due to USA's solid defense.

Then at the top of the sixth, the Jaguars extended their lead to 4-0 with a RBI single to center field which put the game out of reach.

In the circle, Ciocatto (1-6) pitched 5.0 innings and struck out two batters and Katie Williford came in relief and pitched 2.0 scoreless innings and struck out one.

Game Two: South Alabama 5, App State 3 (8 innings)

Despite a three-run deficit, the Jaguars rallied back into the game to overcome the Mountaineers 5-3 in extra innings.

App State jolted onto the board early after Walters blasted a home run that flew over the scoreboard to bring along Orcutt, who reached on a single, for the 2-0 lead.

At the bottom of the fourth, Dodd bombed a solo jack that bounced off the Sofield Indoor Facility to extend their lead to 3-0.

Then at the top of the fifth, the Jags cut Appalachian's advantage to two runs after a RBI double and threatened to score loading the bases at the top of the sixth, but App State's defense stopped the Jags in their tracks denying all their scoring attempts.

In the seventh, the Jags rallied back into the game opening their half of the inning with a solo home run and tied the game at three apiece with a RBI single, which pushed the game into extra innings.

At the top of the eighth, USA snatched their first lead of the game scoring two runs to take the 5-3 advantage and held off Apps' offensive attacks to take the doubleheader sweep.

Kenzie Longanecker (8-8) pitched her fourth complete game in 8.0 innings, registered six strikeouts and fired out a game-high 189 pitches.

Up Next

App State softball will wrap up their conference series with South Alabama tomorrow, April 2 at noon at the Swyassink/Lloyd Family Stadium.

— appstatesports.com —