App State softball dropped the two opening games of its series against Georgia Southern on Thursday, 5-3 and 2-1.

Game 1 Recap (Georgia Southern 5, App State 3)
App State went into extra innings for only the second time this season in the first game of the day, thanks to a stellar defensive performance that led to four three up, three down innings.

The Mountaineers struck first in the top of the second when Addie Wray hit an RBI single to bring in Emily Parrott. In the bottom of the inning, Kaylie Northrop retired her sixth straight, including two of her three strikeouts and the first of two incredible catches by Mary Pierce Barnes in center field.

After the Eagles tied it up in the bottom of the third, the Black and Gold responded with a pair of runs in the top of the fourth. Barnes landed her second double of the season and was shortly after batted home by Riley Becker. Becker earned the first start of her career in this game after nailing a home run in her fourth collegiate appearance last Tuesday.

Barnes leads the team from the plate in conference action, averaging .417 with 10 hits and three RBI.

In the sixth inning, the game was tied again. Wray punched her first triple of the season but the Mountaineers were not able to bring in a fourth run. Wray and Kylie LaRousa led the Black and Gold with two hits a piece.

In the top of the eighth, Barnes earned the first walk of the game by either team. Later that inning, the Eagles landed a walk-off home run to win the first game of the series.

Kaylie Northrop threw exactly 100 pitches in 7.1 innings.

Game 2 Recap (Georgia Southern 2, App State 1)
The Black and Gold punched seven hits in the first five innings to force a pitching change but were only able to score one run in that time, allowing the Eagles to take a late lead in the bottom of the sixth.

Each team scored its first run in the third frame. After three straight singles by Kayt Houston, Sidney Martin and Parrott, Barnes earned an RBI walk to put the Mountaineers on the board.

Martin tallied three hits in the game, followed by Houston with two. Martin has posted a team-high 11 hits in conference games with four RBI.

Delani Buckner pitched the whole game, allowing only four hits and striking out three batters.

The series finale will take place on Friday at 3:30pm to incoming rain.