GREENSBORO, N.C. -Wes Hobson's RBI single in the 10th inning proved to be the difference in Appalachian State University baseball's wild 9-8 victory over UNC Greensboro on Sunday afternoon at UNCG Baseball Stadium.

Appalachian (30-18, 15-13 SoCon) trailed 5-2 after seven innings but scored two runs in the eighth and took an 8-5 lead on Chris Alessandria's grand slam with one out in the top of the ninth.

Things looked good for ASU with a three-run advantage and closer Zach Quate already on the mound. However, a double-switch in the bottom of the eighth forced Quate to make his first collegiate at-bat with two outs in the ninth. Not only did Quate strike out, but also the experience clearly threw him off his normal routine and UNCG (17-28, 5-20 SoCon) scored three runs in the bottom of the ninth to send the contest to extra frames. The three earned runs were one more than Quate had previously surrendered all season.

Jerod Faggart worked a six-pitch walk to lead off 10th inning but things appeared to take a turn for the worse when Rand Smith popped up to first base on a sacrifice-bunt attempt. However, UNCG first baseman Michael Wall threw the ball into right field in an effort to double Faggart off first after the errant bunt, allowing Faggart to reach second despite the failed sacrifice.

Hobson followed with a solid single into right field that easily scored Faggart from second base. Hobson moved into scoring position himself by advancing to second on the throw home but was caught stealing third base to effectively end the ASU threat.

Quate made the lead stand up in the bottom of the 10th to seal the Mountaineers' 30th victory of the season. The triumph lifted the Apps to the 30-win plateau for the third-straight year, giving the program its first string of three-straight 30-win seasons since 1984-86.

Alessandria's ninth-inning grand slam, which came on a 1-2 pitch from UNCG closer Rob Gilliam, was his second of the season and Appalachian's third of the weekend. It was also one of three ASU home runs on the afternoon, as Smith launched his third solo blast of the series to put the Mountaineers on the board in the fifth and Ryan Arrowood kick-started the late-inning rally with a two-run bomb off Gilliam in the eighth.

Smith led the Mountaineers' 11-hit attack by going 3-for-6 with a double to go along with his solo homer. Hobson and David Towarnicky added two hits apiece while Alessandria's four RBI were a game high.

The crazy game featured two of the Southern Conference's top closers (Quate and Gilliam) combining to surrender 10 runs. Quate's ERA more than doubled from 0.54 to 1.24, but he still turned in two scoreless frames out of a season-high tying three innings of work to earn the win and move to 2-1 on the season. Gilliam, on the other hand, was tagged for seven runs (six earned) in four innings of work and suffered the loss to fall to 4-5 on the campaign.

Appalachian closes the regular season this week with four non-conference tilts, beginning with Tuesday's 7 p.m. matchup at NC State. ASU wraps up the regular season with a three-game series versus Longwood on Thursday (7 p.m.) and Friday (2 p.m. DH) at Smith Stadium and opens Southern Conference Tournament action on Wednesday, May 20 in Greenville, S.C.

NOTES: ASU is assured of being the No. 6 seed in next week's SoCon Tournament and will open postseason play at 1 p.m. on Wednesday, May 20 versus the league's No. 3 seed at Fluor Field in Greenville, S.C. ... if the season ended today, archrival Western Carolina would be the Mountaineers' first-round opponent ... click here for complete information on the 2009 SoCon Baseball tournament and to purchase tickets online ... Isaac Harrow was hitless in three at-bats on Sunday but walked three times and scored on Alessandria's ninth-inning slam to become Appalachian's all-time leader in runs scored with 163 ... Harrow now holds six ASU career records, including runs, at-bats (720), hits (246), doubles (63), RBI (198) and total bases (405) ... not only did the Mountaineers secure their third-straight 30-win season, but are also wrapped up their third-consecutive winning record in SoCon play, a feat they hadn't achieved since 1987-89 ... their 15 conference wins tied the school record set in 1986.