BOONE, N.C. (April 11, 2012) – In a game where both teams combined for 22 runs on 19 hits, Appalachian State survived a slugfest over ETSU as the Mountaineers went on to defeat the Bucs, 13-9, in non-conference play on Wednesday evening at Sywassink/Lloyd Stadium.

The Bucs were led offensively by Jackie Baird’s (Ooltewah, Tenn.) two-hit, three-RBI performance as she recorded a single and a three-run homer, and Annie Martin (Centerville, Tenn.) also posted a two-hit game, marking her eighth multi-hit game of the season. In total, six ETSU batters recorded a hit, while Haley Thompson (Nicholson, Ga.) scored three runs and Alex Everett (Soddy Daisy, Tenn.) went 1-for-3 with two RBI.  

Game two of the doubleheader was canceled due to frigid weather in Boone as temperatures were slated to drop below 30 degrees in the nightcap.  

The Bucs wasted little time jumping on the Mountaineer pitching as the Blue and Gold scored three runs on three hits in the top of the first to grab the early lead. Thompson was the first Buccaneer player to reach in the inning as she was hit by a pitch and quickly advanced to second on Baird’s long single down the line in left. With the ETSU bats heating up, red-shirt freshman Casey Horner (Whitesburg, Tenn.) continued the surge by driving in the first run with a single – and with both runners moving up on the play at the plate – Everett drove in her 18th RBI of the season with a sac-fly to left. Senior Marlina Delisa (Tucson, Ariz.) capped off the scoring spree when she perfectly placed a single through the right side – making it a 3-0 lead in favor of the Bucs.

Unfortunately, the three-run lead didn’t last long as Appalachian State responded with five runs on five hits in the bottom half of the inning to take a 5-3 lead.  The Mountaineers picked up a one-out RBI double by Meghan Smith, while she scored on Allie Cashion’s single to right. Then, with two outs and Cashion on first, Caroline Rogers belted a two-run home run over the fence in left-center, while Dani Heichen added an RBI double to left  – giving Appalachian State the two-run advantage.

ETSU’s offensive onslaught continued in the second inning as Baird flexed her muscles by sending a 2-1 pitch out to center for a three-run home run – putting ETSU back ahead, 6-5. Katie Wolff (LaGrange, Texas) led off the inning with a walk and moved to third on Thompson’s one-out double to left, leading to Baird’s monster blast as the ball landed on the roof of Appalachian State’s indoor football practice facility for her fourth round-tripper of the season.

Just like Baird did in the top of the second, Rogers answered in the bottom of the frame with a three-run blast to the same spot as Baird’s – giving the Mountaineers an 8-6 lead after two innings of play.

After the Bucs went down in order in the third, the Mountaineers expanded their lead to 12-6 by scoring four two-out runs (three unearned) in the bottom of the inning, as Appalachian State took full use of a two-out error by Thompson at second. Sarah Warnock drove in a run with her single to left, while Riley Carter cleared the bases with a double to center.

The Blue and Gold took advantage of a costly two-out error by Appalachian State in the fourth to cut the deficit to three, 12-9. With two outs and runners on the corners, Everett recorded her second RBI of the game when her single to left brought home Thompson, while Horner and Everett looked to be stranded in scoring position after Sam Lower (Sebring, Fla.) hit a pop fly to the grass in shallow left. However, as short stop Megan Rembielak was making a play, the ball popped out of her glove allowing the two Buccaneer runners to score.

With ETSU posting its first defensive one-two-three inning in the bottom of the fourth, the Bucs were looking to gain more momentum at the plate, but Amy Campbell (Chattanooga, Tenn.) and Wolff were robbed of hits at short and in right. The defensive gems by Appalachian State proved to be critical as Martin laced a two-out double to left, but she was left stranded when Thompson ended the inning with a grounder to third.

The Mountaineers tacked on their final run in the sixth when Delisa had problems fielding the ball in left, leading to Rogers scoring the unearned run from first.

Appalachian State’s Caroline Williams entered in the seventh to toss one perfect inning to secure the win for the Mountaineers.  

The Bucs dropped to 10-23 following the loss, while Appalachian State won its fourth straight game and improved to 16-17.

ETSU continues its road swing as the Bucs travel to Jacksonville for Atlantic Sun play with North Florida on Friday and Jacksonville on Saturday. First pitch of the doubleheader with the Ospreys is set for 4 p.m. Friday.

For more information on Buccaneer softball, visit www.ETSUBucs.com.