BOONE, N.C. ? Former Appalachian State University baseball standout Tom Prosser died on Sunday morning in a house fire in his native Tennessee. He was 24.

Prosser starred as a left fielder and spark plug in the Appalachian lineup in 2006 and ?07. He hit .313 in 80 games as a Mountaineer, including a sterling .346 average as a senior. His six triples in ?07 tied for the most in ASU single-season history.

Prior to his arrival at Appalachian, Prosser spent two seasons at Roane State C.C., where he hit .341 with 33 RBI and 19 stolen bases in 2005. He was also an academic all-region honoree at Roane State.

He graduated from ASU in May 2008 with a B.S. in exercise science.

“Tom represented everything that we want a student-athlete in our program to be ? hard-working, loyal and a great friend and teammate,” ASU head coach Chris Pollard said. “He will be greatly missed by everyone associated with our program and all of the people he touched as a member of the University community.”

Prosser's funeral will be held on Wednesday, Nov. 26 at Bordwine Funeral Home in Etowah, Tenn. (203 Ohio Ave.). Visitation will take place from 11 a.m.-2 p.m., immediately followed by a memorial service.

A memorial fund has been set up in Prosser's memory. Donations can be in the name of Thomas Prosser III and mailed to Citizens Bank, PO Box 1, Etowah, TN 37331 (phone: 423-263-3515).