Sunday, March 28, 2004

Boone, N.C. (March 28, 2004) — In a Southern Conference pitchers' duel, Appalachian State University's Jordan Arnold went the distance, allowing four hits over seven innings, but ETSU's Tiffany McVay (Soddy-Daisy, Tenn.) was better. McVay smacked a 3-2 pitch over the left field fence in the sixth inning that proved to be the difference in ETSU's 1-0 Southern Conference win on Sunday. In addition, McVay pitched seven innings of scoreless work. Arnold allowed one Buccaneer hit in three of the first four innings, but found her way out of trouble each time. After sitting the Bucs down in order in the fifth, the Black Mountain, N.C. product retired the first two batters of the sixth before yielding the home run to McVay. McVay allowed a pair of hits in the first innings and one in the second, but retired the final 17 Mountaineer batters in order en route to the complete-game victory. The Buccaneer hurler struck out one and did not allow any free passes in the triumph. Appalachian had its best scoring threat in its first at-bat, registering back-to-back singles with one out by Candace Shelton and Diana Cook. Reaching on a successful bunt, Shelton quickly stole second base with one away. Cook followed with a bloop single that stayed in the infield and Shelton was sent home, but Mary Beth Hazelwood (Knoxville, Tenn.) fired a strike to the plate where catcher Sheryl Clark applied the tag in time for the second out. With Cook moving to second base on the throw to the plate and two out, Christa Hicks lined out to end the inning. Prior to the Buccaneers' only run of the day, they did not have a base runner advance to third base. With one out in the fourth inning, Lindsay Lane (Erwin, Tenn.) doubled to right field and on a wild pitch, tried to advance to third where she was gunned down by Sarah Gough. Appalachian looks to return to the win column on Thursday, April 1, when it entertains Charlotte in a doubleheader beginning at 3 p.m. East Tennessee State returns home to entertain Radford in a twin bill of its own on Wednesday, March 31. First pitch is slated for 1 p.m.