# 2022 Appalachian State Mountaineers softball team

The 2022 Appalachian State Mountaineers softball team represented Appalachian State University during the 2022 NCAA Division I softball season. The Mountaineers played their home games at Sywassink/Lloyd Family Stadium. The Mountaineers were led by fifth-year head coach Shelly Hoerner and were members of the Sun Belt Conference.

## Preseason
### Sun Belt Conference Coaches Poll

The Sun Belt Conference Coaches Poll was released on January 31, 2022. Appalachian State was picked to finish sixth in the conference with 46 votes.
Coaches poll :
| Predicted finish | Team | Votes (1st place) |
| 1 | Louisiana | 97 (7) |
| 2 | Texas State | 87 (2) |
| 3 | Troy | 82 (1) |
| 4 | South Alabama | 74 |
| 5 | UT Arlington | 49 |
| 6 | Appalachian State | 46 |
| 7 | Coastal Carolina | 37 |
| 8 | Georgia Southern | 32 |
| 9 | Louisiana–Monroe | 27 |
| 10 | Georgia State | 19 |

### Preseason All-Sun Belt team

No Mountaineers were chosen to the team.

### National Softball Signing Day

| Player | Position | Hometown | Previous Team |
| Alannah Hopkins | Pitcher | Sylva, North Carolina | Smoky Mountain HS |
| Ambry Lucas | Infielder | Senoia, Georgia | Trinity Christian |
| Kaylee Kardash | Infielder | Fishers, Indiana | Fishers HS |
| Emma Wyman | Pitcher | Ocala, Florida | Trinity Catholic HS |
| Riley Becker | Catcher | Matthews, North Carolina | Weddington HS |

## Schedule and results

Legend :
| | Appalachian State win |
| | Appalachian State loss |
| | Postponement/Cancellation/Suspensions |
| Bold | Appalachian State team member |
2022 Appalachian State Mountaineers softball game log :
Regular season (29–24) :
February (7–5) :
| Date | Opponent | Site/stadium | Score | Win | Loss | Save | TV | Attendance | Overall record | SBC record |
| Elon Tournament ||||||||||||
| Feb. 12 | vs. St. Francis | Hunt Softball Complex • Elon, NC | L 1–3 | Marsden (1-0) | Northrop (0-1) | None | FloSports | 117 | 0–1 | |
| Feb. 12 | vs. IUPUI | Hunt Softball Complex • Elon, NC | W 5–4 | Neas (1-0) | Bryant (0-2) | None | FloSports | 84 | 1–1 | |
| Feb. 13 | vs. St. Francis | Hunt Softball Complex • Elon, NC | W 9–7 | Buckner (1-0) | Vesco (1-2) | Northrop (1) | FloSports | 55 | 2–1 | |
| Feb. 13 | at Elon | Hunt Softball Complex • Elon, NC | Game cancelled | Game cancelled | Game cancelled | Game cancelled | Game cancelled | Game cancelled | Game cancelled | Game cancelled |
| Presbyterian Tournament ||||||||||||
| Feb. 19 | vs. Detroit Mercy | PC Softball Complex • Clinton, SC | W 5–1 | Northrop (1-1) | Warrington (0-1) | None | | 75 | 3–1 | |
| Feb. 19 | vs. North Carolina Central | PC Softball Complex • Clinton, SC | W 13–0$^5$ | Buckner (2-0) | Reynolds (0-2) | None | | 75 | 4–1 | |
| Feb. 20 | vs. Detroit Mercy | PC Softball Complex • Clinton, SC | W 6–0 | Nichols (1-0) | Murphy (0-2) | None | | 22 | 5–1 | |
| Feb. 20 | at Presbyterian | PC Softball Complex • Clinton, SC | L 0–8$^5$ | Greene (2-2) | Northrop (1-2) | None | | 87 | 5–2 | |
| College of Charleston Tournament ||||||||||||
| Feb. 25 | vs. Western Carolina | Patriots Point Athletics Complex • Mount Pleasant, SC | W 3–0 | Buckner (3-0) | Rice (3-1) | None | | 125 | 6–2 | |
| Feb. 25 | at College of Charleston | Patriots Point Athletics Complex • Mount Pleasant, SC | L 4–5 | Siegling (1-1) | Neas (1-1) | None | | 160 | 6–3 | |
| Feb. 26 | vs. UConn | Patriots Point Athletics Complex • Mount Pleasant, SC | L 1–2 | O'Neil (3-2) | Nichols (1-1) | None | | 75 | 6–4 | |
| Feb. 26 | at College of Charleston | Patriots Point Athletics Complex • Mount Pleasant, SC | W 6–1 | Buckner (4-0) | Lemire (0-5) | None | | 225 | 7–4 | |
| Feb. 27 | vs. UConn | Patriots Point Athletics Complex • Mount Pleasant, SC | L 6–7$^9$ | Sokolsky (3-2) | Buckner (4-1) | None | | 200 | 7–5 | |
March (10–8) :
| Date | Opponent | Site/stadium | Score | Win | Loss | Save | TV | Attendance | Overall record | SBC record |
| Mar. 1 | at USC Upstate | Cyrill Softball Stadium • Spartanburg, SC | L 6–9 | Houge (8-1) | Nichols (1-2) | None | | 114 | 7–6 | |
| UGA Tournament ||||||||||||
| Mar. 4 | vs. Ohio | Jack Turner Stadium • Athens, GA | W 5–4 | Neas (2-1) | Kohl (2-4) | Nichols (1) | | 87 | 8–6 | |
| Mar. 4 | vs. UMass | Jack Turner Stadium • Athens, GA | W 9–1 | Northrop (2-2) | Bradley (1-2) | None | | 156 | 9–6 | |
| Mar. 5 | vs. UMass | Jack Turner Stadium • Athens, GA | W 9–2 | Buckner (5-1) | DiPasquale (2-3) | None | | 165 | 10–6 | |
| Mar. 5 | vs. Ohio | Jack Turner Stadium • Athens, GA | W 7–0 | Nichols (2-2) | Kohl (2-6) | None | | 167 | 11–6 | |
| Mar. 6 | at No. 16 Georgia | Jack Turner Stadium • Athens, GA | L 2–10$^5$ | Macy (5-0) | Northrop (2-3) | None | | 1,014 | 11–7 | |
| Mar. 9 | Boston College | Sywassink/Lloyd Family Stadium • Boone, NC | Game cancelled | Game cancelled | Game cancelled | Game cancelled | Game cancelled | Game cancelled | Game cancelled | Game cancelled |
| Mar. 11 | at Texas State | Bobcat Softball Stadium • San Marcos, TX | L 0–5 | Mullins (7-5) | Buckner (5-2) | None | | 483 | 11–8 | 0–1 |
| Mar. 12 | at Texas State | Bobcat Softball Stadium • San Marcos, TX | W 3–2 | Nichols (3-2) | Glende (2-2) | None | | 483 | 12–8 | 1–1 |
| Mar. 13 | at Texas State | Bobcat Softball Stadium • San Marcos, TX | W 4–1 | Northrop (3-3) | Mullins (7-6) | None | | 408 | 13–8 | 2–1 |
| Mar. 16 | East Tennessee State | Sywassink/Lloyd Family Stadium • Boone, NC | Game postponed | Game postponed | Game postponed | Game postponed | Game postponed | Game postponed | Game postponed | Game postponed |
| Mar. 16 | East Tennessee State | Sywassink/Lloyd Family Stadium • Boone, NC | Game postponed | Game postponed | Game postponed | Game postponed | Game postponed | Game postponed | Game postponed | Game postponed |
| Mar. 19 | at Georgia State | Robert E. Heck Softball Complex • Panthersville, GA | W 11–0$^5$ | Buckner (6-2) | Adams (2-5) | None | | 81 | 14–8 | 3–1 |
| Mar. 19 | at Georgia State | Robert E. Heck Softball Complex • Panthersville, GA | L 2–6 | Mooney (2-4) | Nichols (3-3) | None | | 85 | 14–9 | 3–2 |
| Mar. 20 | at Georgia State | Robert E. Heck Softball Complex • Panthersville, GA | L 5–8 | Hodnett (2-3) | Northrop (3-4) | Buck (1) | | 87 | 14–10 | 3–3 |
| Mar. 22 | Western Carolina | Sywassink/Lloyd Family Stadium • Boone, NC | W 9–2 | Nichols (4-3) | Juett (2-4) | None | | 187 | 15–10 | |
| Mar. 22 | Western Carolina | Sywassink/Lloyd Family Stadium • Boone, NC | L 2–5$^8$ | Rice (6-3) | Buckner (6-3) | None | | 187 | 15–11 | |
| Mar. 25 | at Louisiana–Monroe | Geo-Surfaces Field at the ULM Softball Complex • Monroe, LA | W 6–3 | Buckner (7-3) | Chavarria (2-4) | Neas (1) | | 405 | 16–11 | 4–3 |
| Mar. 26 | at Louisiana–Monroe | Geo-Surfaces Field at the ULM Softball Complex • Monroe, LA | W 7–6 | Neas (3-1) | Kackley (5-3) | None | | 410 | 17–11 | 5–3 |
| Mar. 27 | at Louisiana–Monroe | Geo-Surfaces Field at the ULM Softball Complex • Monroe, LA | L 1–2 | Chavarria (3-4) | Northrop (3-5) | None | | 398 | 17–12 | 5–4 |
| Mar. 30 | at North Carolina | Williams Field at Anderson Stadium • Chapel Hill, NC | L 4–8 | George (10-2) | Buckner (7-4) | None | | 144 | 17–13 | |
April (12–7) :
| Date | Opponent | Site/stadium | Score | Win | Loss | Save | TV | Attendance | Overall record | SBC record |
| Apr. 1 | Georgia Southern | Sywassink/Lloyd Family Stadium • Boone, NC | W 2–1 | Neas (4-1) | Belogorska (3-9) | None | | 252 | 18–13 | 6–4 |
| Apr. 2 | Georgia Southern | Sywassink/Lloyd Family Stadium • Boone, NC | W 7–1 | Buckner (8-4) | Waldrep (4-6) | None | | 277 | 19–13 | 7–4 |
| Apr. 3 | Georgia Southern | Sywassink/Lloyd Family Stadium • Boone, NC | L 8–11 | Waldrep (5-6) | Buckner (8-5) | None | | 220 | 19–14 | 7–5 |
| Apr. 6 | East Tennessee State | Sywassink/Lloyd Family Stadium • Boone, NC | W 8–1 | Buckner (9-5) | Farr (3-8) | None | | 106 | 20–14 | |
| Apr. 6 | East Tennessee State | Sywassink/Lloyd Family Stadium • Boone, NC | W 8–0 | Neas (5-1) | Arnott (0-10) | None | | 78 | 21–14 | |
| Apr. 8 | South Alabama | Sywassink/Lloyd Family Stadium • Boone, NC | Game postponed due to inclement weather | Game postponed due to inclement weather | Game postponed due to inclement weather | Game postponed due to inclement weather | Game postponed due to inclement weather | Game postponed due to inclement weather | Game postponed due to inclement weather | Game postponed due to inclement weather |
| Apr. 9 | South Alabama | Sywassink/Lloyd Family Stadium • Boone, NC | Game cancelled | Game cancelled | Game cancelled | Game cancelled | Game cancelled | Game cancelled | Game cancelled | Game cancelled |
| Apr. 10 | South Alabama | Sywassink/Lloyd Family Stadium • Boone, NC | L 6–10 | Lackie (8-4) | Buckner (9-6) | None | | 125 | 21–15 | 7–6 |
| Apr. 12 | North Carolina Central | Sywassink/Lloyd Family Stadium • Boone, NC | W 18–1 | Neas (6-1) | Davis (2-6) | None | ESPN+ | 65 | 22–15 | |
| Apr. 12 | North Carolina Central | Sywassink/Lloyd Family Stadium • Boone, NC | W 11–9 | Buckner (10-6) | Reynolds (1-4) | None | ESPN+ | 44 | 23–15 | |
| Apr. 14 | at Troy | Troy Softball Complex • Troy, AL | L 0–2 | Johnson (15-7) | Buckner (10-7) | None | | 107 | 23–16 | 7–7 |
| Apr. 15 | at Troy | Troy Softball Complex • Troy, AL | L 2–6 | Johnson (16-7) | Neas (6-2) | None | | 67 | 23–17 | 7–8 |
| Apr. 15 | at Troy | Troy Softball Complex • Troy, AL | L 3–7 | Baker (7-4) | Buckner (10-8) | None | | 103 | 23–18 | 7–9 |
| Apr. 19 | at East Tennessee State | Betty Basler Field • Johnson City, TN | W 8–0$^6$ | Buckner (11-8) | Farr (3-13) | None | | 100 | 24–18 | |
| Apr. 19 | at East Tennessee State | Betty Basler Field • Johnson City, TN | W 8–0$^5$ | Neas (7-2) | Arnott (0-13) | None | | 115 | 25–18 | |
| Apr. 22 | Louisiana | Sywassink/Lloyd Family Stadium • Boone, NC | W 4–1 | Buckner (11-8) | Landry (14-3) | None | ESPN+ | 205 | 26–18 | 8–9 |
| Apr. 23 | Louisiana | Sywassink/Lloyd Family Stadium • Boone, NC | L 2–8 | Schorman (10-4) | Neas (6-3) | None | ESPN+ | 311 | 26–19 | 8–10 |
| Apr. 24 | Louisiana | Sywassink/Lloyd Family Stadium • Boone, NC | L 1–10 | Landry (15-3) | Nichols (4-4) | None | ESPN+ | 229 | 26–20 | 8–11 |
| Apr. 26 | North Carolina A&T | Sywassink/Lloyd Family Stadium • Boone, NC | W 6–4 | Neas (7-3) | Stinson (2-9) | None | | 99 | 27–20 | |
| Apr. 29 | UT Arlington | Sywassink/Lloyd Family Stadium • Boone, NC | W 7–6 | Northrop (4-5) | Bumpurs (6-6) | Buckner (1) | | 219 | 28–20 | 9–11 |
| Apr. 29 | UT Arlington | Sywassink/Lloyd Family Stadium • Boone, NC | W 7–2 | Buckner (12-8) | Adams (12-14) | None | | 188 | 29–20 | 10–11 |
| Apr. 30 | UT Arlington | Sywassink/Lloyd Family Stadium • Boone, NC | L 1–4 | Max (4-1) | Buckner (11-9) | None | | 237 | 29–21 | 10–12 |
May (0–3) :
| Date | Opponent | Site/stadium | Score | Win | Loss | Save | Attendance | Overall record | SBC record |
| May 5 | at Coastal Carolina | St. John Stadium – Charles Wade-John Lott Field • Conway, SC | L 0–2 | Beasley-Polko (11-9) | Neas (8-4) | None | 163 | 29–22 | 10–13 |
| May 5 | at Coastal Carolina | St. John Stadium – Charles Wade-John Lott Field • Conway, SC | L 5–6 | Brabham (1-0) | Buckner (13-10) | None | 163 | 29–23 | 10–14 |
| May 6 | at Coastal Carolina | St. John Stadium – Charles Wade-John Lott Field • Conway, SC | L 1–4 | Beasley-Polko (12-9) | Neas (8-5) | None | 168 | 29–24 | 10–15 |
Post-Season (0–2) :
SBC tournament (0–2) :
| Date | Opponent | (Seed)/Rank | Site/stadium | Score | Win | Loss | Save | TV | Attendance | Overall record | Tournament record |
| May 11 | vs. (3) Texas State | (6) | Jaguar Field • Mobile, AL | L 0–2 | Mullins (26-11) | Buckner (13-11) | None | ESPN+ | 103 | 29–25 | 0–1 |
| May 12 | vs. (9) Coastal Carolina | (6) | Jaguar Field • Mobile, AL | L 2–3 | Beasley-Polko (14-10) | Neas (8-6) | None | ESPN+ | 67 | 29–26 | 0–2 |
    Schedule Source:
*Rankings are based on the team's current ranking in the NFCA/USA Softball poll.