BOONE, N.C.  – Katie Mathewson blasted out her first home run of the season as Appalachian State University softball fell to South Alabama in Game Three of the weekend conference series on Sunday at the Sywassink/Lloyd Family Stadium in Boone.

Appalachian State (12-21, 0-9 SBC)  got hot late scoring three runs in the latter half of the game, but South Alabama's (23-12, 6-7 SBC) five runs held steady as the Jaguars snatched the three-game sweep.

The Mountaineers crashed out five hits on Sunday, and Haley Stewart highlighted the offense with a 2-for-3 performance at the plate that included a RBI double. Also, Mathewson whaled out her seventh career home run and pounded in two RBI.

In the circle, Katie Williford (1-1) pitched 2.2 innings and registered a game-high of four strikeouts. In relief were Annaleise Kennedy and Kenzie Longanecker who pitched a combined 4.1 innings and struck out two Jaguars.

Game Three: South Alabama 5, App State 3

After holding each other scoreless in the opening inning, the Jags scored the first run of the ballgame at the top of the second on a RBI single and followed by loading the bases, but Williford left three stranded after striking out her third batter of the game.

In the following two innings, South Alabama stretched their lead to 5-0 after smacking a home run in the third and adding three more in the fourth.

Then in the bottom of the inning, Mathewson broke through blasting a two-run jack over the left field fence to cut South Alabama's lead to 5-2.

In the top of the fifth, Longanecker entered the game and kept the conference showdown close putting the Jaguars off guard with her tough pitching to counter Appalachian's limited offensive output.

Then at the bottom of the seventh, Stewart cut USA's lead to two after smacking a RBI double to left field, but South Alabama held off the Appalachian's last batter to grab the conference sweep.

Up Next

App State softball will travel down to Cullowhee, N.C. to take on Western Carolina for a midweek doubleheader at 4 p.m.

— appstatesports.com —