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BOONE, NC— A shorthanded Winthrop softball team lost 11-8 and 9-7 as it was swept by Appalachian State in a non-conference doubleheader, Tuesday evening at Sywassink/Lloyd Family Stadium.

The Eagles were forced to travel without five players, including starters Teja Durante, Alex White and the team's pitching ace Sutton Watson. Despite being undermanned, Winthrop battled and the offense put up some big numbers but it wasn't enough as the Eagles fall to 20-19 on the year. Appalachian State is now 20-13 and has won five straight.

“We hit the ball well today, but unfortunately so did they,” said Winthrop head coach Mark Cooke. “We just couldn't get them out. I'm really proud of our kids as they battled and fought the whole way. We had runners on base at the end of both games, but just couldn't drive them in. We played hard and we're going to come home and get ready for Coastal on Saturday.”

Winthrop scored seven runs in the first four innings and led 7-2 heading to the bottom of the fourth. Chelsey Schoenfeldt gave Winthrop a 1-0 lead in the first as she picked up an RBI single. After getting a run in the second on a fielding error, Winthrop increased its lead to 4-0 thanks to a two-run home run by Schoenfeldt. Allie Cashion made it 4-2 with a two-RBI single before the Eagles added three in the top of the fourth for the five-run lead.

Kim Ryder led off the fourth with walk and then with one out Kristy Noble and McKenzi Corn were both plunked to load the bases. Schoenfeldt stepped in, but drew a walk on a full count for her fourth RBI of the game. Kathryn Eberlin followed with a single through the left side, scoring Noble and Corn for a 7-2 lead.

It was the bottom of the fourth when the Mountaineers got back in the game as the first five batters reached base as Cynthia Gomez and Sarah Warnock each delivered RBI singles. At that point Schoenfeldt was replaced in the pitching circle by Sara Allen. Dani Heichen singled off Allen to make it 7-5 and then App State ended up tying the game as the Eagles defense struggled. The Mountaineers tied the game at 7-7 on an error and then another error kept the inning alive as Caroline Rogers singled through the left side to give the Mountaineers their first lead in the game. Winthrop finished the inning allowing seven runs on six hits and had three errors.

Schoenfeldt started the game and allowed six runs (five earned) on nine hits with three walks in 4.1 innings of work but didn't figure in the decision. Allen suffered the loss as she allowed three unearned runs on two hits in 0.1 innings of work and falls to 2-3 on the year.
In the opening game of the doubleheader, Winthrop struck first as Schoenfeldt ripped a single up the middle with two outs, scoring Zharne Glover from third base.

App State responded with five runs in the bottom of the first, the majority of the runs coming off fielding miscues by the Eagles. The first two runs came off the bat of Cashion as she singled to right, scoring Dani Heichen and Warnock after both reached on walks. The next three runs came on throwing errors by Ryder, Noble and Ritter.

Trailing 7-2 heading to the top of the fourth, Winthrop put two runs on the board. It started Allen's first career home run as she led off the inning with a shot to left. A few batters later, Ryder scored on a wild pitch. Ryder reached on a fielder's choice, stole second and then moved to third on a ground out.
Ashley Seering got the two runs right back for the Mountaineers as she came through with a two-RBI double down the right field line in the bottom of the fourth.

Winthrop scored four runs in the top of the fifth to make it a two-run game, but had an opportunity for a bigger inning as it loaded the bases with no outs. Allen came up and hit a grounder to the pitcher, who tossed the ball home for the force out. Melanie Andrea followed with an RBI single to right, scoring Eberlin, but then the other two runners came around to score as the right fielder's throw got away. Andrea eventually scored on an error by the catcher.
Schoenfeldt suffered the loss as she lasted just 0.1 innings as the starter allowing four runs (two earned) on two hits and two walks. Allen pitched the remaining 5.2 innings allowing seven runs (six earned) on six hits with seven walks.

On the day, Eberlin and Schoenfeldt each had four hits while Allen finished with three hits and three runs. Schoenfeldt had five RBI on the day and moved into fourth on Winthrop's all-time list with 127 in her career. She also hit a home run and now has 29 in her career, just one shy of Janiva Willis' record of 30.

Corn had two hits on the day, the first giving her 100 in her career. She is now batting .410 on the season.

With the two home runs on the day, Winthrop now has 48 as a team this season and are four away from tying the school record of 52 (2004).
Winthrop will be back in action this weekend beginning with a doubleheader on Saturday against Coastal Carolina, beginning at 1 p.m. The first game of the doubleheader is scheduled to broadcast on ESPN3.