# 2021 Appalachian State Mountaineers softball team

The 2021 Appalachian State Mountaineers softball team represented Appalachian State University during the 2020 NCAA Division I softball season. The Mountaineers played their home games at Sywassink/Lloyd Family Stadium. The Mountaineers were led by fourth-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 February 8, 2021. Appalachian State was picked to finish sixth in the Sun Belt Conference with 43 votes.
Coaches poll :
| Predicted finish | Team | Votes (1st place) |
| 1 | Louisiana | 100 (10) |
| 2 | Troy | 87 |
| 3 | Texas State | 72 |
| 4 | Coastal Carolina | 68 |
| 4 | UT Arlington | 68 |
| 6 | Appalachian State | 43 |
| 7 | Georgia Southern | 38 |
| 8 | South Alabama | 36 |
| 9 | Louisiana-Monroe | 22 |
| 10 | Georgia State | 16 |

### National Softball Signing Day

| Player | Position | Hometown | Previous Team |
| Kathleen Barton | Catcher | Helotes, Texas | Sandra Day O'Connor HS |
| Kam Caldwell | Shortstop | Bogart, Georgia | Prince Avenue Christian |
| Katelynn Crowe | Utility | Denver, North Carolina | East Lincoln HS |
| Kylie LaRousa | Catcher | Harrisburg, North Carolina | Hickory Ridge HS |
| Kenzi Lyall | Pitcher | Sparta, North Carolina | Alleghany HS |
| Sejal Neas | Pitcher | Johnson City, Tennessee | Science Hill HS |
| Kennedy Upshire | Infielder | Rancho Murieta, California | Sheldon HS |
| Hailey Webb | Infielder/Utility | Antioch, Illinois | Antioch Community HS |
| Addie Wray | Shortstop | Claremont, North Carolina | Bunker Hill HS |

## Schedule and results

Legend :
| | Appalachian State win |
| | Appalachian State loss |
| | Postponement/Cancellation/Suspensions |
| Bold | Appalachian State team member |
2021 Appalachian State Mountaineers softball game log :
Regular season (26-17) :
February (6-4) :
| Date | Opponent | Site/stadium | Score | Win | Loss | Save | Attendance | Overall record |
| Feb. 12 | at Charlotte | Sue M. Daughtridge Stadium • Charlotte, NC | L 3-4 (8 inn) | Walljasper (1-0) | Holland (0-1) | None | | 0-1 |
| Feb. 16 | at Charlotte | Sue M. Daughtridge Stadium • Charlotte, NC | W 12-7 | Holland (1-1) | Mitchell (0-1) | None | | 1-1 |
| Feb. 16 | at Charlotte | Sue M. Daughtridge Stadium • Charlotte, NC | L 3-5 | Walljasper (2-0) | Buckner (0-1) | None | | 1-2 |
| Feb. 20 | at UNC Greensboro | UNCG Softball Stadium • Greensboro, NC | W 9-5 | Longanecker (1-0) | Stiltner (0-2) | None | | 2-2 |
| Feb. 21 | at UNC Greensboro | UNCG Softball Stadium • Greensboro, NC | W 7-5 | Holland (2-1) | Scott (0-2) | None | | 3-2 |
| Feb. 21 | at UNC Greensboro | UNCG Softball Stadium • Greensboro, NC | L 5-9 | Varga (1-0) | Brazile (0-1) | None | | 3-3 |
| Feb. 27 | at UNC Wilmington | Boseman Field • Wilmington, NC | W 3-2 | Longanecker (2-0) | Pate (0-2) | None | 115 | 4-3 |
| Feb. 27 | at UNC Wilmington | Boseman Field • Wilmington, NC | W 5-4 | Nicholas (1-0) | Gamache (0-1) | None | 115 | 5-3 |
| Feb. 28 | at UNC Wilmington | Boseman Field • Wilmington, NC | L 2-5 | Bjorson (1-0) | Buckner (0-1) | None | 32 | 5-4 |
| Feb. 28 | at UNC Wilmington | Boseman Field • Wilmington, NC | W 7-1 | Longanecker | Pearce (0-1) | None | 125 | 6-4 |
March (8-6) :
| Date | Opponent | Site/stadium | Score | Win | Loss | Save | TV | Attendance | Overall record | SBC record |
| Mar. 5 | at North Carolina A&T | Lady Aggie Softball Complex • Greensboro, NC | W 15-1 (5 inns) | Longanecker (4-0) | Kirby (0-4) | None | | 12 | 7-4 | |
| Mar. 5 | at North Carolina A&T | Lady Aggie Softball Complex • Greensboro, NC | W 8-4 | Holland (3-1) | Richards (0-3) | None | | 17 | 8-4 | |
| Mar. 7 | at North Carolina Central | Thomas Brooks Park • Cary, NC | W 8-0 (6 inns) | Longanecker (5-0) | Hurley (0-8) | None | | 75 | 9-4 | |
| Mar. 7 | at North Carolina Central | Thomas Brooks Park • Cary, NC | W 17-0 (5 inns) | Buckner (1-2) | Barr (0-3) | None | | | 10-4 | |
| Mar. 9 | at East Tennessee State | Betty Basler Field • Johnson City, TN | L 0-2 | Schmidt (3-1) | Holland (3-2) | None | | 160 | 10-5 | |
| Mar. 9 | at East Tennessee State | Betty Basler Field • Johnson City, TN | W 7-1 | Longanecker (6-0) | Boling (1-2) | None | | 175 | 11-5 | |
| Mar. 13 | at South Alabama | Jaguar Field • Mobile, AL | L 0-1 | Lackie (8-3) | Longanecker (6-1) | None | ESPN+ | 200 | 11-6 | 0-1 |
| Mar. 13 | at South Alabama | Jaguar Field • Mobile, AL | L 4-7 | Hughen (3-3) | Holland (3-3) | None | ESPN+ | 200 | 11-7 | 0-2 |
| Mar. 14 | at South Alabama | Jaguar Field • Mobile, AL | L 0-4 | Lackie (9-3) | Longanecker (6-2) | None | ESPN+ | 200 | 11-8 | 0-3 |
| Mar. 21 | Texas State | Sywassink/Lloyd Family Stadium • Boone, NC | L 3-4 | King (4-1) | Longanecker (6-3) | McCann (1) | | 50 | 11-9 | 0-4 |
| Mar. 21 | Texas State | Sywassink/Lloyd Family Stadium • Boone, NC | L 3-8 | Barrera (1-0) | Holland (3-4) | Mullins (2) | | 50 | 11-10 | 0-5 |
| Mar. 23 | at Western Carolina | Catamount Softball Complex • Cullowhee, NC | W 5-1 | Longanecker (7-3) | Eilers (3-8) | None | ESPN+ | 36 | 12-10 | |
| Mar. 23 | at Western Carolina | Catamount Softball Complex • Cullowhee, NC | W 4-3 (10 inns) | Buckner (2-2) | Rice (2-7) | None | ESPN+ | 36 | 13-10 | |
| Mar. 26 | Georgia State | Sywassink/Lloyd Family Stadium • Boone, NC | W 6-5 (8 inns) | Longanecker (8-3) | Doolittle (0-1) | None | ESPN+ | 50 | 14-10 | 1-5 |
| Mar. 28 | Georgia State | Sywassink/Lloyd Family Stadium • Boone, NC | Game Cancelled due to threat of inclement weather in Boone | Game Cancelled due to threat of inclement weather in Boone | Game Cancelled due to threat of inclement weather in Boone | Game Cancelled due to threat of inclement weather in Boone | Game Cancelled due to threat of inclement weather in Boone | Game Cancelled due to threat of inclement weather in Boone | Game Cancelled due to threat of inclement weather in Boone | Game Cancelled due to threat of inclement weather in Boone |
| Mar. 28 | Georgia State | Sywassink/Lloyd Family Stadium • Boone, NC | Game Cancelled due to threat of inclement weather in Boone | Game Cancelled due to threat of inclement weather in Boone | Game Cancelled due to threat of inclement weather in Boone | Game Cancelled due to threat of inclement weather in Boone | Game Cancelled due to threat of inclement weather in Boone | Game Cancelled due to threat of inclement weather in Boone | Game Cancelled due to threat of inclement weather in Boone | Game Cancelled due to threat of inclement weather in Boone |
April (10–3) :
| Date | Opponent | Site/stadium | Score | Win | Loss | Save | TV | Attendance | Overall record | SBC record |
| Apr. 3 | Radford | Sywassink/Lloyd Family Stadium • Boone, NC | W 5-2 | Longanecker (9-3) | Marvin (4-10) | None | ESPN+ | 50 | 15-10 | |
| Apr. 3 | Radford | Sywassink/Lloyd Family Stadium • Boone, NC | W 3-1 | Holland (4-4) | Dehart (3-2) | None | ESPN+ | 50 | 16-10 | |
| Apr. 7 | UNC Greensboro | Sywassink/Lloyd Family Stadium • Boone, NC | W 4-3 | Longanecker (10-3) | Scott (8-5) | None | ESPN+ | 50 | 17-10 | |
| Apr. 10 | Louisiana–Monroe | Sywassink/Lloyd Family Stadium • Boone, NC | W 8-2 (6 inns) | Longanecker (11-3) | Williams (2-5) | None | ESPN+ | 50 | 18-10 | 2-5 |
| Apr. 10 | Louisiana–Monroe | Sywassink/Lloyd Family Stadium • Boone, NC | W 1-0 | Holland (5-4) | Hulett (4-3) | None | ESPN+ | 50 | 19-10 | 3-5 |
| Apr. 11 | Louisiana–Monroe | Sywassink/Lloyd Family Stadium • Boone, NC | W 1-0 (8 inns) | Buckner (3-2) | Hulett (4-4) | None | ESPN+ | 50 | 20-10 | 4-5 |
| Apr. 16 | at Georgia Southern | Eagle Field at GS Softball Complex • Statesboro, GA | L 3-11 (6 inns) | Garcia (3-4) | Longanecker (11-4) | Richardson (1) | ESPN+ | 135 | 20-11 | 4-6 |
| Apr. 16 | at Georgia Southern | Eagle Field at GS Softball Complex • Statesboro, GA | W 6-3 | Holland (6-4) | Waldrep (3-5) | Buckner (1) | ESPN+ | 135 | 21-11 | 5-6 |
| Apr. 17 | at Georgia Southern | Eagle Field at GS Softball Complex • Statesboro, GA | W 5-2 | Holland (7-4) | Feil (0-6) | None | ESPN+ | 150 | 22-11 | 6-6 |
| Apr. 21 | East Tennessee State | Sywassink/Lloyd Family Stadium • Boone, NC | W 4-3 | Buckner (4-2) | Schmidt (7-8) | None | | 50 | 23-11 | |
| Apr. 21 | East Tennessee State | Sywassink/Lloyd Family Stadium • Boone, NC | W 8-0 (6 inns) | Longanecker (12-4) | Boling (2-3) | None | | 50 | 24-11 | |
| Apr. 24 | Troy | Sywassink/Lloyd Family Stadium • Boone, NC | Game cancelled | Game cancelled | Game cancelled | Game cancelled | Game cancelled | Game cancelled | Game cancelled | Game cancelled |
| Apr. 24 | Troy | Sywassink/Lloyd Family Stadium • Boone, NC | L 2-3 | Johnson (18-5) | Longanecker (12-5) | None | ESPN+ | 50 | 24-12 | 6-7 |
| Apr. 25 | Troy | Sywassink/Lloyd Family Stadium • Boone, NC | L 6-8 | Baker (6-3) | Buckner (4-3) | Johnson (2) | ESPN+ | 50 | 24-13 | 6-8 |
May (2-4) :
| Date | Opponent | Site/stadium | Score | Win | Loss | Save | TV | Attendance | Overall record | SBC record |
| May 1 | at UT Arlington | Allan Saxe Field • Arlington, TX | L 0-2 | Valencia (4-6) | Longanecker (12-6) | Gardiner (4) | | 156 | 24-14 | 6-9 |
| May 1 | at UT Arlington | Allan Saxe Field • Arlington, TX | L 0-6 | Hines (5-11) | Holland (7-5) | None | | 156 | 24-15 | 6-10 |
| May 2 | at UT Arlington | Allan Saxe Field • Arlington, TX | W 2-0 | Longanecker (13-6) | Henriksen (2-5) | None | | 156 | 25-15 | 7-10 |
| May 6 | Coastal Carolina | Sywassink/Lloyd Family Stadium • Boone, NC | W 7-5 | Longanecker (14-6) | De Jesus (5-8) | Buckner (2) | ESPN+ | 50 | 26-15 | 8-10 |
| May 6 | Coastal Carolina | Sywassink/Lloyd Family Stadium • Boone, NC | L 0-8 | Beasley-Polko (10-9) | Holland (7-6) | None | ESPN+ | 50 | 26-16 | 8-11 |
| May 7 | Coastal Carolina | Sywassink/Lloyd Family Stadium • Boone, NC | L 3-12 (6 inns) | Brabham (6-6) | Buckner (4-4) | None | ESPN+ | 50 | 26-17 | 8-12 |
Post-Season (1-2) :
SBC tournament (1-2) :
| Date | Opponent | (Seed)/Rank | Site/stadium | Score | Win | Loss | Save | TV | Attendance | Overall record |
| May 12 | vs. (4) South Alabama | (5) | Troy Softball Complex • Troy, AL | L 0-11 (5 inns) | Lackie (17-9) | Longanecker (14-7) | None | ESPN+ | 218 | 26-18 |
| May 13 | vs. (10) Georgia State | (5) | Troy Softball Complex • Troy, AL | W 2-1 | Holland (8-6) | Mooney (7-12) | None | ESPN+ | 104 | 27-18 |
| May 14 | vs. (4) South Alabama | (5) | Troy Softball Complex • Troy, AL | L 1-2 | Hardy (3-2) | Longanecker (14-8) | Lackie (4) | ESPN+ | 147 | 27-19 |
    Schedule Source:
*Rankings are based on the team's current ranking in the NFCA/USA Softball poll.

## Postseason
### Conference accolades

* Player of the Year: Ciara Bryan – LA
* Pitcher of the Year: Summer Ellyson – LA
* Freshman of the Year: Sara Vanderford – TXST
* Newcomer of the Year: Ciara Bryan – LA
* Coach of the Year: Gerry Glasco – LA
References: