Softball finishes conference play with series loss against Samford

Softball finished its last regular season series against Samford Saturday and Sunday, with a win and two losses.

The first game of the Saturday double-header demonstrated just how strong the Apps’  offense was, with an 8-6 win.

Centerfielder Allie Cashion and designated hitter Meghan Smith led the win for ASU, with two RBIs.

Head coach Shae Wesley said she was pleased with the victory.

“The first win of the series is always great,” Coach Wesley said. “The greatest part of that is that we dug ourselves into a little bit of a hole and were able to come all the way back to win the game.”

But the Mountaineers’ second game didn’t go as well — they suffered an 11-7 loss.

Appalachian managed 12 hits, but Samford’s offense exploded for 17, leaving ASU behind in the dust.

Smith said ASU gave the opposing team a lot of second chances.

“We gave them every chance to basically win and it is very frustrating,” Smith said.

The Mountaineers also lost their Sunday game, 5-4.

The game was tied until the bottom of the sixth inning, when Samford took the lead after an Appalachian throwing error.

The series left the Mountaineers with a final season record of 21-23 overall, and 9-13 in the conference as they head into the SoCon tournament.

During ASU’s upcoming bye-week, the outcome of games between other conference teams will determine the Mountaineers’ tournament seeding.

Shortstop Megan Rembielak said she doesn’t care who the team will face in the first round.

“It doesn’t matter because if you want to get to the championship game you have to play everyone,” Rembielak said. “To me, at this point, everyone is good competition.”

This year’s SoCon Softball Championship will take place in Boone and begins May 9.

Story: ETHAN JOYCE, Intern Sports Reporter