April 2, 2003
FURMAN SPLITS SOFTBALL TWINBILL AT APPALACHIAN STATE
BOONE, N.C. -- Appalachian State senior Lael Rorie blasted a grand slam in the third inning of the second game of a SoCon doubleheader to lead Appalachian State to a 7-3 win and a split with Furman.
Joni Lockridge got Furman going in the second game as she rifled her first double of the year to left center. After reaching third on a passed ball, Furman would jump ahead 1-0 when Karen Myers delivered a sacrifice fly to left field. Appalachian would limit the damage to only one when Jennifer Hurley forced Meagan Johnson to fly out to left field to end the threat.
The Mountaineers responded quickly in the bottom half of the third. Lauren Barrow started things off when she poked a single through the right side. A sharp grounder to the pitcher by Candice Shelton moved Barrow to second and provided the first out of the inning. A Mary Lutz infield single then put runners on the corners with one away. Christa Hicks’ would then load the bases with a grounder deep into the hole at shortstop with only one out. After a Sarah Gough strikeout, Rorie came to the plate and hammered a belt-high fastball over the left center fence to bolt Appalachian ahead 4-1.
The Mountaineers jumped ahead 7-1 in the fifth when Rorie’s bloop single found its way over the outstretched arms of Furman first baseman Meagan Johnson., plating Lutz and Gough. Jennifer Welborn, pinch running for Rorie, then scored on a double by Laura Padgett to extend the lead to 7-1.
Furman would attempt to mount a comeback in the seventh when Sarah Scott started the inning with a leadoff walk. Pinch hitter Jessica Matthews would then reach on a fielders choice after shortstop Christa Hicks lost a pop up in the sun. Hicks regrouped and was able to garner an out by nailing Scott at second on the force. After a Lockridge lineout to center, Furman catcher Karen Myers delivered a two-run shot over the left center field fence to pull to 7-3. The final out of the game came when Hurley forced Meagan Johnson to pop up to shortstop.
Appalachian’s Jennifer Hurley notched the win, improving to 4-6 on the year. Furman’s Rachel Henley took the loss, falling to 6-7.
Rorie finished game two by going 2-for-3 with six RBI, which included her first home run of the year. Furman’s Karen Myers went 1-for-2 with three RBI to pace the Paladins.
In game one, Furman jumped ahead in the third by pushing three across, thanks in part to Kate Morrison's two-run home run to left field. The Paladins’ Alison McNulty would score after a Appalachian leftfielder Wendy Lewis misplayed a pop up.
Furman added another run in the fourth and hung a five spot in the seventh to provide the 9-2 win.
Furman’s Karen Myers, Alison McNulty and Kate Morrison each had two hits in the first game. Morrison ended the first game with two RBI as did Kelli Leachman.
Jordan Arnold took the loss for Appalachian, falling to 3-7 while Furman’s Meagan Johnson picked up her seventh win of the year.
Appalachian and Furman will round out their midweek SoCon series on Thursday afternoon when they play the rubber game of the series at 4:00 p.m. at the Watauga County Softball Complex.