BOONE, N.C. — Appalachian State University held visiting North Carolina Central University to just one run scored in completing a 3-0 and 7-1 non-conference doubleheader sweep at Sywassink/Lloyd Family Stadium Wednesday.
 
The Mountaineers improved to 25-9 and the Lady Eagles dipped to 12-20.
 
NC Central next visits University of Maryland Eastern Shore next Wednesday for a non-conference doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m.
 
GAME ONE: App State 3, NC Central 0
 
The Mountaineers scored two early runs and junior Sydney Holland made it stick with a strong performance in the pitcher's circle. Holland (8-5) held NCCU to just three hits and she struck out six on the way to her second complete-game shutout.
 
NCCU had a few chances to score. The best opportunities came after sophomore Olivia Daniel led off the second with a double and junior Tamiera Sanchez tallied her own double with one out in the fifth. However, the Lady Eagles were unable to produce a run in any of their three innings they put a runner in scoring position.
 
Sophomore Kiara Hurley toed the rubber for NCCU and had another quality outing for the maroon and gray. Hurley (10-11) suffered the loss, but only one of the three runs she allowed was earned because of four Eagle errors. She totaled four K's.
 
Appalachian State was held to five hits, with the biggest base knocks being an RBI-single by freshman Alison Durrence in the second and a run-producing double by classmate Mary Pierce Barnes in the sixth.
 
GAME TWO: App State 7, NC Central 1
 
The home team was able to plate a pair of runs in each of the first three innings to pull away to a 6-0 lead before settling for the victory by that same margin in the nightcap. App State scored its seven runs on nine hits, including four doubles.
 
Junior Caylie Kifer drove in three runs for the victors and classmate Laura Sales scored a trio of times.
 
Sophomore Nadia Blevins drove in NCCU's lone run with a bases-loaded walk in the fourth inning. Senior Aleyah Evans started the frame with a single and she eventually scored on the base on balls drawn by Blevins.
 
Junior Maddie Siemer (2-2) limited the Lady Eagles to just one run on six hits for the complete-game victory. Siemer logged five strikeouts.
 
NC Central used a trio of pitchers in the contest with senior Claire Eosso, sophomore Caroline Campbell and freshman Francheska Steins all recording notching one strikeout.
 
Sophomore Jessica Powell led NCCU's lineup with a pair of singles. Blevins was the lone Eagle to hit safely in both ends of Wednesday's double dip.