BOONE, N.C. — Appalachian State University baseball concluded a spirited first week of fall practice with two strong scrimmages on Friday and Sunday at Beaver Field at Jim and Bettie Smith Stadium.

Junior Zach Joyce got the fall intrasquad season started off strong with a 91 mile-per-hour fastball on the first pitch of Friday's scrimmage. In an effective inning of work, the junior struck out one and registered a quality-pitch rating of 67 percent.

With pitchers throwing only fastballs and change-ups, several hurlers, including fifth-year senior Jordan Jessup and and freshman Taylor Thurber registered 1-2-3 innings of work. Thurber led Friday's pitchers with a 73-percent quality-pitch rating.

Sophomore Preston Troutman led the offensive charge on Friday with a 3-for-3 day at the plate, including a triple in his second at-bat. Junior Hector Crespo was 2-for-2 with a walk and two stolen
bases, while senior Zack Briggs added an RBI double.

Senior right-handers Seth Grant and Ryan Arrowood squared off for the first two innings of Sunday's scrimmage, matching 92mph fastballs and very effective changeups. Junior Ryne Frankoff added a scoreless inning of work by striking out two, while two newcomers on the mound — freshman Jeffrey Springs and junior transfer Josh Wilson — sparkled in their debuts, with Springs striking out two of the four batters he faced and Wilson fanning three in two innings of work.

Troutman continued to lead the Mountaineers at the plate on Sunday, going 2-for-3 with a double and triple. Briggs, junior Tyler Zupcic and senior Daniel Kassouf each added a double whiler edshirt freshman John Kincaid was 1-for-1 with a walk and a triple.

Per NCAA regulations, baseball clubs can hold full team practices during a 45-day period in the fall. Each fall practice counts towards the NCAA-allowed 132-day baseball season, which includes the traditional spring campaign. Appalachian began its fall drills on Sunday, Sept. 25 and will hold its annual intrasquad fall world series Oct. 21-23, Oct. 28-29 and Nov. 4-5 at Smith Stadium.

In addition to this week's practice, ASU hosts its annual Pro Scout Day on Friday and expects a record number of Major League Baseball scouts to be in attendance. Additionally, the Mountaineers' 2012 schedule is expected to be completed and announced later this week.