Box Score Game Box (PDF)
Spartanburg, S.C. – Appalachian State scored five runs in the second inning and went on to take a 6-3 upset victory at USC Upstate Tuesday night in non-conference softball action at Cyrill Satdium.
Upstate fell to 37-8 on the season with the loss in its final non-conference game of the regular season. The Spartans have four games remaining in the regular season, all A-Sun contests, starting tomorrow at East Tennessee State to finish the three-game A-Sun split series. The start time for the game has been moved up to 2:00 p.m. with the threat of rain later in the day in Johnson City. Appalachian State improved to 25-16 on the year with the win.
Meredith Barnes (Salem, Ore.) provided a spark early in the game, belting a leadoff homer in the bottom of the first inning to give Upstate a 1-0 lead. It was her 11th homer of the season, tying her for the team lead with Shellie Robinson (DeLand, Fla.).
After Barnes' homer, Upstate loaded the bases with back-to-back singles from Ericka Harris (Piedmont, S.C.) and Robinson and a walk by Dana Landers (Simpsonville, S.C.). After Appalachian State starter Shivaun Landeros got the next two batters out, Kendall Settlemyre (Hickory, N.C.) sent a laser shot toward shortstop for an infield single that scored two runs as Upstate opened a 3-0 lead after the first inning.
Appalachian State responded in the top of the second inning. After two bloop singles to center put runners on first and second with no outs, Alex Sohl singled through the middle to drive in a run and cut the Upstate lead to 3-1. The Mountaineers loaded the bases after Caroline Rogers was hit by a pitch by Upstate starter Hannah Alexander (Lexington, N.C.).
Sarah Warnock slapped a two-run single to tie the game at 3-3 with one out in the top of the second. After an out, Appalachian State loaded the bases when Allie Cashion drew an intentional walk. The Mountaineers scored two runs to open a 5-3 lead when Lindsay Loudermilk lifted a high pop fly to the seam where the infield meets the grass, but Upstate shortstop Maddison Kieffer (Middleburg, Fla.) peeled off on the play to give way to a charging Robinson from center. However, the ball dropped to the ground for an unlucky single that brought in two runs as Appalachian State opened a 5-3 lead with five runs in the second.
After allowing three runs in the first, Landeros settled down and allowed just two hits and a walk over the next six innings to gain control of the game. She retired the side in order in each of the fifth, sixth and seventh innings.
With four scoreless innings going by following the five-run second by Appalachian State, Loudermilk gave the Mountaineers a 6-3 lead with a solo home run to right to lead off the seventh inning.
Upstate couldn't generate any offense in the bottom of the seventh as Landeros held off the Spartan attack to earn the win. She improved to 9-6 on the year. Alexander fell to 15-4 on the year with loss.
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