BOONE, N.C.  – Appalachian State University softball will play host to Sun Belt Conference foe Georgia Southern in a three-game series April 14-15 at the Sywassink/Lloyd Family Stadium in Boone, N.C. First pitch for Friday's single game is slated for 4 p.m., and Saturday's doubleheader will begin at 1 p.m.

The Mountaineers (12-24, 0-12 SBC) suffered their 12th-straight conference loss last weekend in a series sweep to ULM. The Apps dropped two close battles on Saturday, 2-0 and 2-1 in extra innings, and fell 5-1 in the finale on Sunday. Natalie Orcutt turned in the best performance at the plate with a .444 average and registered her tenth double and third triple of the season. Also, Jenny Dodd shot out her 14th career jack, which ties for seventh in App State's career home runs record list.

Overall, App State bats .244 and owns a 3.39 ERA. Leading the offensive charge is Orcutt who averages .333 at the plate with 13 RBI, and right behind her is Ally Walters who is responsible for a .300 average with a team-high of 15 RBI.

In the circle, Kenzie Longanecker continues to lead the pitching staff lowering her ERA from 2.01 to 1.86 over the weekend and has fired out 92 strikeouts in 109.0 innings. In game two against ULM, Longanecker hopped onto the school's single-season record list for strikeouts and currently sits tenth. Also, Longanecker continues to top the pitching charts in the conference holding top ten spots in multiple categories including the No. 1 position in games finished and games in relief and the No. 5 spot for the best ERA.

This weekend, App State looks to grab their first conference win of the season, snap a 12-game losing streak and down the Eagles for the first time since May 4, 2013 (2-0).

SCOUTING THE EAGLES

•  The Appalachian State and Georgia Southern rivalry is one of the longest contentions in App State softball history dating back to the inception of the program in 2001. In the 54-game history between the former SoCon teams, the Eagles hold the all-time advantage at 41-13. In the most recent ballgame, GS shutout the Mountaineers 3-0 in2016.

•  Georgia Southern (21-15, 5-7 SBC) is currently tied with ULM for fourth in the Sun Belt, average .253 at the plate and own a 4.36 ERA in 242.1 innings. In conference play, they have turned in a .258 offensive performance, and their pitchers are responsible for a 3.75 ERA.

•  The last time out, GS swept Coastal Carolina in the conference series 8-7, 8-0 (6) and 9-1 (6). Senior outfielder Emily Snider batted .500 against the Chanticleers and recorded two RBI, six runs and one home run.

• At the plate, Emily Snider tops the offensive group with a .377 batting average that includes 28 scored runs, five doubles, five triples and eight homers, and team-highs of 27 RBI and a .719 slugging percentage. In Sun Belt play, Snider averages .438 at the plate and has collected four doubles, two triples, three homers and 11 RBI on 21 hits.

• Dixie Raley has been the Eagles' most successful pitcher with a 3.26 ERA. In 122.1 innings pitched she has snatched ten victories, pitched ten complete games, blanked four opponents and has hurled out 102 strikeouts. Against conference opponents, the right-handed pitcher owns a 3.00 ERA in 51.1 outings that includes one shutout victory and 45 strikeouts

• The Eagles welcome five newcomers to Statesboro and return six field starters and all their pitchers from last year's team that ended their 2016 campaign 30-27 and 13-11 in the Sun Belt

•  Head Coach Annie Smith enters her sixth year at the helm of Georgia Southern's softball program and is assisted by Kaitlyn Medlam and Megan Hill. Last year, Smith led the Eagles to their 11th 30-win season in school history and Smith's fourth as head coach, the most of any Eagles softball coach. Also, GS was one of two Sun Belt squads to down each conference school at least once throughout the 2016 season.