CONWAY – The Coastal Carolina softball team improved to 34-18 on the season and 12-13 in the Sun Belt Conference as they picked up a 3-1 victory versus the Appalachian State Mountaineers (30-21, 12-12 Sun Belt) on Thursday afternoon at St. John Stadium.
 
Sophomores Stavi Augur and Courtney Dean gave the Chants a 2-0 lead after just four pitches by Mountaineer starter Kenzie Longanecker. The duo greeted the senior Mountaineer starter with back-to-back home runs in the bottom of the first inning.
 
App Head Coach Shelly Hoerner didn't hesitate as she went to the bullpen and reliever Maddie Siemer. Siemer was able to get her first two batters of the inning but was not able to get her third batter in senior Natalie David.  The Evansville, Ind., native took Simer's 1-1 pitch over the left field fence for her third long ball of the season to put Coastal up 3-0 after just one inning of play.
 
The Mountaineers were only able to pick up four hits and one run off Chanticleer starter Kaitlin Beasley-Polko. In the sixth, the righty allowed a lead-off walk to Kaylie Kifer.  Kifer moved up to second on a fielding error by Chant shortstop Alexis Alvino and then came around to score on a wild pitch and error by the Chanticleer battery mates, Beasley-Polko and sophomore catcher Samantha Sack.
 
With one out and two runners on in the seventh inning, Coastal Head Coach Kelley Green went to the bullpen and senior Ashley Guillette. The veteran would induce a ground out bunt to first baseman Kassidy Smith and then got Mountaineer Sydney Russell to strike out for the final out of the game for her third save of the year.
 
With the save, Guillette stepped to the top of the record book with her 11th career save, good for first all-time. The Oxford, Conn., native surpassed Michelle Hall (1990-93) with 10 saves.
 
Beasley-Polko improved to 22-12 on the season as she went 6.1 innings with an unearned run.
 
David was the Chanticleers top hitter on the day as she went 2-for-3 with a home run and a run batted in.
 
App's Longanecker took the loss as she dropped to 14-6. Siemer pitched 6.0 strong innings in relief as she gave up one run on 86 pitches.
 
The two teams will play game two of the series tomorrow at 4:00 p.m. at St. John Stadium.
 
For complete coverage of CCU softball, follow the Chanticleers on social media at @CoastalSB(twitter), @GoCCUSports (Instagram) and facebook.com/CCUChanticleers (Facebook) or visit the official home of Coastal Carolina Athletics at goccusports.com.