AUBURN, Ala. – Appalachian State University softball was off to a lightning fast start to the 2015 season with a six-run second inning, but a 12-run second from UAB derailed the Mountaineers in the season opener and App State fell 20-9 in five innings.
The Mountaineers (0-1) scored all of their runs in the second inning with the help of three home runs. Freshman Haley Stewart showcased her power to lead off the inning with a bomb over the left field fence to give the Apps a 1-0 lead.
Following two strikeouts, Pepper Butler hit her fifth career home run to the same spot that Stewart hit hers over the left field fence.
With a 2-0 lead, Kristen Terry singled to left field, Cynthia Gomez reach on an error by the Blazers' second baseman and Dani Heichen walked to load the bases for Cara Parker. With a 1-1 count, Parker blasted a pitch that ricocheted off of Auburn's video board for her first career grand slam and 11th career home run.
Parker's homer moves her into a tie for seventh all-time in program history with Ashley Gaston for career dingers.
Unfortunately for the Mountaineers, due to six hits, five walks, four errors, an illegal pitch, a passed ball and a hit batter the Blazers were able to put up 12 runs in the bottom half of the second to suck the air out of the Mountaineers.
App State started to chip away in the third inning when Caroline Chambers came up to the plate in a pinch-hitting situation and doubled home two runs in an eventual three-run inning for the Mountaineers to cut the lead to 12-9.
UAB fired right back with six more in the bottom of the third to extend its lead to 18-9 and seemingly put the game out of reach. The Blazers tacked on two more before the run-rule came into effect and would win 20-9.
Parker led the way at the plate going 1-for-2 with four RBI and a run scored. Stewart finished 1-for-3, including her first career home run. Chambers finished 2-for-2 at the plate with those two RBI and a run scored, while Butler also contributed a 1-for-2 day at the plate with an RBI and two runs scored.
Gomez, Heichen, and Terry also all contributed one hit each on the night. Alissa Schoelkopf started and struck out one, allowing two hits and three earned runs. Katherine Johnson relieved Schoelkopf and surrendered three earned on five hits. Newcomer Vanessa Ciocatto fanned three batters in 1.2 innings, while allowing four hits and three earned.
The Mountaineers will return to action tomorrow morning at 10 a.m. ET when they face-off against Evansville. Then at 12 p.m. ET the Mountaineers will challenge former Southern Conference foe Chattanooga.
