By Katherine Jamtgaard for App State Sports. BOONE, N.C. – App State softball completed a three-game season sweep over East Tennessee State with a pair of wins on Tuesday, 4-3 and 5-3.
The Mountaineers ended Game 1 in walk-off fashion before smoothly taking care of the Buccaneers in the latter matchup. Kayt Houston posted four runs and three hits across the doubleheader, while Sidney Martin and Mary Pierce Barnes recorded four hits apiece.
Game 1 Recap (App State 4, ETSU 3, 8 innings)
The Mountaineers started their offensive output with a monster of a first inning, scoring two runs on three hits and three stolen bases. Martin singled to left center to bring in Houston before Barnes singled to left field to bring in Emily Parrott.
App State stole five bases over the course of the contest, the most by the program in a game since February 27, 2021, in a win over UNC-Wilmington. The bases on Tuesday were snagged by Martin, Parrott, Barnes and Houston (x2). Parrott has stolen six this season to lead the Mountaineers in that department.
The Buccaneers responded with a pair of runs in the second inning, going up, 3-2. In the bottom of the fourth, the Mountaineers tied things up at three after Houston’s second stolen base of the game. Thorp tallied the RBI as the score remained 3-3 until the bottom of the eighth.
Sejal Neas, who came in to pitch for Delani Buckner midway through the fourth inning, allowed no runs and only two hits to give the Mountaineers’ offense a chance to take the lead.
In the top of the seventh, the Bucs put themselves in scoring position, loading the bases with only one out. ETSU’s best statistical batter, Sara Muir, stepped to the plate and hit a hard ball to third base. Taylor Thorp fielded it in stunning fashion, stepping on her base and lining it to first for the double play.
In the bottom of the eighth, Hannah Forbes opened the inning with her first career hit, a single to the right side. Houston advanced her to second with a single of her own before Parrott earned the game-winning RBI single, batting in Forbes.
Houston, Parrott, Martin and Barnes all tallied two hits while Riley Becker, Kennedy Upshire and Forbes added one apiece.
Game 2 Recap (App State 5, ETSU 3)
The first inning saw two runs by the Mountaineers for the second straight game. Houston and Martin each singled to the outfield before Barnes’ biggest hit of the day, an RBI double to left center.
The Mountaineers are 13-3 this season when they score a run in the first inning.
App State kept things rolling in the second with two more runs, increasing the lead to four in an inning that saw four walks and one hit by the home team.
The Bucs picked up one run in the third but never came within two until the seventh inning. In the bottom of the fourth, Martin scored App State’s final run after slamming a double to left center and was batted in by Wray shortly after.
Kaylie Northrop pitched a complete game and struck out five batters, increasing her season total to 80, the 11th highest in the Sun Belt.
Martin and Barnes led with two hits a piece, accompanied by Houston, Parrot and Wray, who each had one.
Up Next
App State is set for a weekend series at South Alabama, beginning on Thursday at 7 p.m. ET.
