GREENSBORO, NC Appalachian State pounded out 19 hits and used a 10-run third inning to defeat UNC Greensboro 19-7 in the final game of the regular season Saturday afternoon at UNCG Baseball Stadium. With the win, ASU takes its first series win over UNCG since 2001.
ASU (32-24, 14-13 SoCon) jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the top of the first. After Wes Hobson reached on a one-out double, Andrew Franco connected for a single through the left side to score Hobson.
UNCG (28-28, 14-13 SoCon) responded in the same inning with three runs to take a two-run advantage. Matt Gaski walked and Guy Welsh reached on a fielder's choice before junior Ricky Orton blasted a three-run, one-out home run deep to right-center. The Spartans took a 4-1 lead in the second when Tim Carrier's pop to rightfield dropped between two Mountaineers, allowing Adam Deleo to score.
The Mountaineers exploded for 10 runs in the third to take a seven-run advantage. Hobson began the ASU scoring when he sent a one-out homer to right-center. After loading the bases with two walks and a double, the Mountaineers drew two straight RBI walks and Tom Prosser added a run with single. Chris Baker chipped in with a two RBI double and Jason Altenhof picked up a RBI single before Hobson sent a two-run hit up the middle. David Rubinstein finished off ASU's scoring when he tripled to right, plating Hobson and giving ASU the commanding 11-4 lead.
ASU tacked on two more runs in the fifth after capitalizing on a Spartan error and an Isaac Harrow single. Altenhof gave the Mountaineers a 14-4 lead in the sixth on a sacrifice fly. ASU struck for five runs in the eighth, highlighted by a two-out grand slam by Franco, 19-4 ASU.
The Spartans pushed across three runs in the bottom of the ninth after being held scoreless for six straight innings. Sean Snell reached on a hit by pitch and was followed by Carrier, who recorded his third hit of the game. Gaski scored Snell on a two-bagger to left-center. Orton picked up his fourth and fifth runs batted in with a single to center, making it 19-7 in favor of ASU.
Hobson finished 5-for-6 with four RBI, while Franco went 3-for-6 with six RBI for the Mountaineers. Matt Andress (6-4) picked up the win after allowing four runs on five hits in six innings of work.
Freshman Rob Gilliam (2-1) suffered the loss after giving up six runs on five hits in 2-1/3 innings of work.
Carrier led UNCG at the plate as the junior went 3-for-4 with one run batted in and a run scored. Orton finished 2-for-4 with five RBI for the Spartans.
UNCG honored seniors Ryan Falcon, Brandon Harvey, Jake Linney, Sam Martin, Nick Starnes and Guy Welsh prior to the game.
The Spartans and the Mountaineers will face each other again on Wednesday in round one of the 2007 Southern Conference Tournament. UNCG will enter the tournament as the No. 5 seed and ASU will take the fourth seed in the tournament. The two teams will play the first game of the day beginning at 10 am from Riley Park in
Charleston, SC.
AGATE
Score by Innings R H E
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Appalachian State... 10(10) 021 050 - 19 19 0
UNC Greensboro...... 310 000 003 - 7 9 2
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Pitchers: UNCG Gilliam; Shelton (3); Judd (3); Gibson (5); Harvey (8); McCall (9)
Pitchers: ASU Andress; Quate (7); Mills (9)
Win Matt Andress (6-4) Loss Rob Gilliam (2-1)
- UNCG -
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