Tied 2-2 in the bottom of the seventh inning, Pepper Butler hit a walk-off single, driving in the game-winner, and giving Appalachian State the 3-2 win over the Presbyterian College softball team in the final game of the Gamecock Invitational held at the Carolina Softball Stadium in Columbia, S.C.
PC falls to 2-4 on the year, while Appalachian State improves to 3-4. The Blue Hose open the home season Wednesday, Feb. 18, as they host Furman in a doubleheader beginning at 2 p.m.
The first four innings were scoreless as the Blue Hose collected just two hits during the span, compared to one for the Mountaineers.
Offense clicked for PC in the top of the fifth as Jill Mclean and Erin Ruff led the inning off with back to back singles. Shelby Petik brought them home the next at bat with a two-RBI double to give the Blue Hose the 2-0 lead.
The lead was short-lived as Haley Stewart cut the deficit to one run with a solo home run in the bottom of the fifth. After Amanda Salentine drew a walk the next at bat, she moved to third off a single by Sarah Wornock and a PC error. Dani Heichen drove her home next with a single to tie the game at 2-2.
After a scoreless sixth inning, all three PC batters in the top of the seventh popped up into the infield, giving ASU the chance in the bottom of the frame. After the first two batters went down in order, Cynthia Gomez led off the rally with a single. It was followed up by a single from Heichen to put runners on first and second. Butler, ended the game the next at bat with a single through the left side to plate Gomez for the win.
PC ended the game with five hits and one error, the hits coming from McLean, Ruff, Petik, Kersten Legacki and Erin Taylor. Kensley Loudermelk went 4.1 innings as the starter, surrendering two runs off four hits and striking out three. Sydney Seigler (0-1), in 2.1 innings of relief, gave up four runs and one hit, with three Ks.
Appalachian State finished with eight hits, with Heichen, Butler and Stewart recording two apiece. Alissa Schoelkopf (1-0) earned the win with no runs and one hit in 3.0 innings. Vanessa Ciocatto started for ASU, striking out five in 4.0 innings.
