CONWAY, S.C. – The Coastal Carolina softball team walked off the Appalachian State Mountaineers 8-7 on Sunday afternoon at St. John Stadium.
 
Appalachian State displayed its firepower in the opening inning when Makayla McClain and Talor Schafer each went yard to give the Mountaineers a 3-0 lead.
 
The Mountaineers extended their lead to 6-0 in the top of the third inning, adding three runs on a Coastal Carolina throwing error, a groundout, and an RBI single.
 
Coastal answered in the bottom of the third when Libby Pippin smashed a leadoff home run over the right-field wall. The Chants then put runners on first and second with a single and a walk, allowing McKennah Metzger to clear the bases with a three-run homer to cut the deficit to 6-4.
 
App State added one more run in the top of the sixth inning when Julia Girk laced an RBI single to left-center field to push the advantage to 7-4.
 
Metzger kept the Chants alive when she cracked a solo home run in the bottom of the seventh inning to make the score 7-5. CCU then loaded the bases on a walk and two hit-by-pitches. Clara Hudgens stepped up to the plate and ripped a two-run single to center field to tie the game at 7-7. With two outs on the board, Delaney Keith secured the win when she slashed an RBI single past the first baseman to give Coastal the 8-7 walk-off victory.
 
Kate Ryan improved to 2-0 in the circle, allowing just one hit and not surrendering a run in her 1.2 innings of work.
 
The Chants will hit the road to face Winthrop on March 18 at 4 p.m.
 
For complete coverage of CCU softball, follow the Chanticleers on social media at @CoastalSoftball (X), @GoCCUSports (Instagram), and Facebook.com/CCUChanticleers, or visit the official home of Coastal Carolina Athletics at GoCCUSports.com.