App State head men's basketball coach Dustin Kerns has made an addition to his coaching…

Mary Pierce Barnes went a combined six-for-eight batting in the doubleheader with three runs scored.
photo courtesy of Appalachian State Athletics
photo courtesy of Appalachian State Athletics
Appalachian State Softball Drops Both Games of Doubleheader Against South Alabama
App State softball dropped its first two games of the series at South Alabama, 9-0 and 5-2.
Game 1 Recap (South Alabama 9, App State 0, 5 innings)
South Alabama scored in each inning of the series opener to take an early win. Kaylie Northrop, Alannah Hopkins and Kapri Toone each saw an inning in the circle. Toone punched the Mountaineers’ lone strikeout of the contest.
At the plate, Sidney Martin, Kennedy Upshire and Mary Pierce Barnes each tallied a hit. Martin has totaled 10 hits in her last seven contests. Barnes leads the team in conference action with a batting average of .438.
Game 2 Recap (South Alabama 5, App State 2)
The Mountaineers struck first in the second game of the afternoon against undefeated Jenna Hardy. Taylor Thorp batted in Martin, who opened the game with a single to left field.
Sejal Neas struck out two of the Jaguars’ first three batters for the first of two three-up, three-down innings that App State would force. However, South Alabama slowly built a four-run lead going into the seventh.
Neas pitched a complete game and totaled four strikeouts and allowed only three earned runs.
In the final inning, Kylie LaRousa punched her second single of the game. Abby Cunningham pinch ran and scored the Mountaineers’ second run on a fielding error.
Barnes added two hits to total three through the first two games of the series.
The series finale will be played on Sunday at 1 p.m. ET.