Boone, N.C. – Appalachian State plated three first-inning runs and Caitlin Wainright tossed a complete game to lead the Mountaineers to a 3-1 victory over Furman in the series opener of a three-game softball set Sunday afternoon at Sywassink/Lloyd Family Stadium.

The loss dropped Furman to 16-32 overall and 8-14 in Southern Conference play while Appalachian State improved to 23-21 overall and 14-6 in the league.  The Paladins and Mountaineers cap the regular season on Monday with an 11 a.m. doubleheader.  A sweep would give Furman the No. 7 seed in this week's SoCon Tournament while another loss would push Furman into a 10 a.m. play-in game on Wednesday morning in Statesboro, Ga., as the No. 8 seed. 

After Furman stranded a pair of runners in scoring position in the top half of the first, Katie Boyd reached on a leadoff walk and Megan Rembielak followed with a bunt single to give the Mountaineers runners at first and second with nobody out.  Meghan Smith singled to score Boyd from second and Appalachian State loaded the bases when Allie Cashion drew a base on balls.  Michelle Lighton lifted a sacrifice fly to left field and Hannah Dow laced an RBI single to left before Furman starter Kayla Suskauer retired the next two batters to end the rally.

Furman got on the board in the fifth inning as Emily Boyer reached on a single, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt and scored on Stephanie Field's single back up the middle, but Wainwright worked out of trouble to limit the Paladins to the lone run.

Wainright (6-5) scattered seven hits and fanned six batters without issuing a walk in seven innings of work.  Smith led the Mountaineers going 2-for-3 at the plate.

Suskauer (11-15) suffered the loss for Furman despite allowing just four hits, one after the first inning, and three runs in six innings.  She walked three and struck out three.  Field and Hannah Pace each collected a pair of hits for the Paladins.

Fans can follow live statistical updates of each game of the Appalachian State series and every Furman contest at the SoCon Tournament by logging onto www.FurmanPaladins.com.

"One Spirit. One Team. One Furman."