BOONE, N.C. — Wednesday will be the 158th meeting between Appalachian State and Western Carolina, as the Mountaineers have 61 total wins and three straight victories in the series.
App State played in Cullowhee on Feb. 27 and won 13-3 by scoring twice in the top of the first inning, four times in the second inning and four times in the third inning. Designated hitter Jason Avers and catcher Riley Smith finished with four RBIs apiece, and first baseman Conner Leonard hit a solo homer in the eighth.
When the Mountaineers held a 10-1 lead after three innings, it was the first time they reached double figures in the first three innings of a game since the 2012 team that won a SoCon title and reached an NCAA Regional scored 10 runs in the first three innings of a 15-4 win against Rider.
Appalachian (8-27) is playing a home-and-home series with Western (3-31) for the first time since 2015.
MAKING HIS PITCH
Right-handed freshman Cameron Kepley (0-1, 6.89 ERA in nine games) will likely make his second career start on the mound.
Kepley made his App State debut in the first matchup with Western Carolina, allowing one hit and posting one strikeout in 1.1 scoreless innings. After five relief appearances, he made his first career start in the March 31 finale of the South Alabama series, and each of his last three appearances were in relief.
On Saturday, Kepley struck out two batters and allowed one run in three innings of relief against Louisiana.
Last year, as a senior at Central Cabarrus High School, Kepley went 6-3 with a 0.92 ERA and two complete games in 13 outings. He made the N.C. Baseball Coaches 3A All-State team after also spending time at quarterback for the Vikings' football team.
Western's probable starter is left-handed freshman Caleb Bishop (0-3, 13.86 ERA in six games).
RECAPPING TUESDAY
A first-inning grand slam from CJ Brown gave App State an early lead Tuesday, and Bailey Welch hit a tiebreaking single in the eighth inning, but visiting North Carolina Central won 7-6 by scoring two unearned runs in the top of the ninth.
Welch went 3-for-5 with a triple to lead the Mountaineers' offense.
