April 25, 2004
Furman Softball Downs Appalachian State in Extra Innings 3-2
Greenville, S.C. -- Pitcher Rachel Henley struck out a career-high 14 batters and Kristen Arnold scored the game-winning run on Jessica Matthews' sacrifive fly in the bottom of the ninth as Furman defeated Appalachian State 3-2 in softball action Sunday at Pepsi Stadium.
With the game knotted at 2-2, freshman Danielle Franklin opened the bottom of the ninth with a single to left. Arnold, pinch running for Franklin, reached second on a sacrifice bunt by LaKerah Barr and moved to third when Valerie Cross reached on an error. After an intentional walk to Megan Jaudon loaded the bases, Matthews flied out to left to drive home Arnold for the 3-2 win.
Furman took an early 2-0 lead on the Mountaineers. Barr led off the first with a walk, adavnced to second on a stolen base and to third on Matthews' one-out single. Joni Lockridge followed with a single to center field to give the Lady Paladins a 1-0 lead.
In the second inning, Barr reached on a fielder's choice and stole second and third before scoring on JoDee Eichelberger's infield single.
Appalachian State chipped away at the 2-0 lead in the fourth. After Diana Cook reached on a walk and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt, Kristyn Hurt singled to center to cut the lead to 2-1.
Hurt led off the top of the seventh with a double to the centerfield wall and was pinch run for by Mary Lutz. Kasey Motsinger reached on a one-out error to move Lutz to third and Wendy Lewis followed with a game-tying single. Henley got a strike out and a fly out to end the inning.
Henley, 10-19 on the season picked up the victory for Furman. The junior allowed only one earned run on five hits while striking out 14 in a nine-inning complete game.
Jordan Arnold suffered the loss for the Mountaineers to fall to 8-10. Arnold allowed just one earned run on six hits in 8.1 innings of relief.
Hurt led Appalachian State going 2-for-3 at the plate while eight Lady Paladins collected a hit in the series finale.
The win improves Furman to 13-41 overall and 6-9 in Southern Conference play, while the Appalachian State falls to 18-31 overall and 6-12 in league play.
Furman returns to action Wednesday when it hosts Georgia State in a 3 p.m. twinbill at Pepsi Stadium.