Game 1 | Game 2

BOONE, N.C. - Appalachian State took advantage of the limited opportunities between both teams to top UTA on Saturday at Sywassink/Llloyd Family Stadium in Sun Belt play.

The Mavericks (25-22, 11- 12 Sun Belt) entered as one of the hottest teams in the conference after winning five of their last six, but couldn't get the offense clicking on the road. Appalachian State took both in the doubleheader, winning Game 1, 2-0, and the finale 3-2. UTA continues to lead in the all-time series 5-3 despite the setback, but fell for the first time on the road in the series. App State improved to 14-29 after winning its first two Sun Belt games.

The teams conclude the three-game series on Sunday, first pitch is slated for 11 a.m. CT.

The Mavs picked up strong pitching performances from each of its starters. Sam Clakley, making her 30th start of the season, was prevented from earning her 20th win of the year as she went to 19-12 in picking up the loss in Game 1. Clakley struck out one, walked two and was on the hook for both earned runs in six innings pitched. Mariah Denson, making her fourth start of the year, struck out three of the first four batters she faced on the way to sitting down five. The freshman tossed four frames, while falling to 2-7.

In what turned out to be a pitcher's dual in Game 1, it was the Mountaineers that were able to scrap out a win. App State used a two-RBI bloop-single on two outs in the third that fell just beyond the stretched out glove of Sandra Mendoza.

The Mavs stranded five on the paths in the opener, with the team's three hits coming from Mendoza, Krista Rude and Aileen Garcia.

In Game 2, UTA stranded nine as App State gave the Mavs plenty of chances to push across a run. Four errors through the first six innings from the Mountaineers in the infield didn't come back to haunt the home team. The Mavs put runners on base in four of the first five innings, including three with a runner in scoring position.

The Apps picked up runs on a sacrifice fly coming in the second to right, and then another pair on a two-out base hit with the bases loaded in the fourth.

UTA attempted a late-inning comeback in the seventh. The Mavs picked up a run on the fifth error of the game and Whitney Walton doubled to center, however, after one run came in, UTA was thrown out at the plate for the second out of the frame. The Mavs would ground out to the pitcher with two in scoring position for the final out of the day.