Gardner-Webb takes

two from ASU

From staff reports

BOILING SPRINGS — Appalachian State’s softball team let a four-run seventh inning lead slip away in a 9-8 loss to Gardner-Webb in the second gme of a doubleheader Tuesday. Appalachian State also lost the first game 3-2.

The Mountaineers (13-16) scored twice in the first inning of game two when Sarah Rappe scored on a wild pitch and Meagan Squartino drew a bases loaded walks to bring in Megan Rembielak.

Gardner-Webb (11-14) fought back with four unearned runs in the bottom half to take the lead, but that was all the runs they would get until the final inning.

Appalachian scored in the third to cut the lead to 4-3. Andrea McIntyre led off with a double and scored on an RBI single by Rappe.

ASU took the lead in the third when McIntyre walked with the bases loaded and Brittany Gaston scored on an error by the first baseman.

The Mountaineers pushed the lead to 8-4 in the fifth. Rembielak had an RBI ground out while Michelle Lighton drove in two with a single through the right side.

The game remained 8-4 until the seventh. Gardner-Webb started the inning with a double and a single, followed by a sacrifice bunt, but a throwing error allowed all runners on safely. Melody Harrell greeted Appalachian State relief pitcher Kayla Richardson with an RBI single. Christa Fullwood followed with a drive to left field that tipped off the left fielders glove and went over the fence for a game- winning grand slam.

Teri Fister had a strong outing for ASU in relief, pitching 5 1/3 innings, allowing four hits and two earned runs. Rembielak had two hits for ASU with a run and an RBI, while Fullwood had two hits and five RBIs for the Bulldogs while Melinda Dulkowski and Mandy Ward had two hits apiece.

Appalachian dropped the first game 3-2, as Gardner-Webb scored all of their runs in the third inning.

Fullwood gave the Bulldogs their first run with a double and McKenzie Morenus added a sac fly for the second run.

Fullwood moved to third on the sac fly and scored in between pitches as she caught the Appalachian defense off guard.

The Mountaineers got back in the game in the fifth. Lighton led off with a double and moved to third on a sac bunt by Ashley Gaston and scored on a single by Andrea Mcintyre.

The Mountaineers got within 3-2 in the sixth when Katie Boyd launched her ninth homer of the year, tying her own single-season school record that she set last season.

The score remained 3-2 when Appalachian went down in order in the seventh. Ashley Stubbs was the hard luck loser as she allowed just two hits, but walked four and struck out two in six innings. Christine Murray earned the win, allowing three hits with 10 strikeouts.

The Mountaineers return to action this weekend when they travel to UNC Greensboro in SoCon action beginning Saturday with a doubleheader starting at 1 p.m.