FOREST CITY, N.C. — Sophomore Tyler Tewell drove in two runs and four pitchers combined for Appalachian State University baseball's first opening-day shutout in 38 years, a 4-0 blanking of visiting Maryland-Eastern Shore on Friday night at McNair Field.

Nathan Hyatt, Jordan Jessup, Will Helms and Taylor Miller combined to limit UMES to just six hits and give Appalachian its first season-opening shutout win since it blanked Jacksonville State, 6-0, in 1973.

The Mountaineers collected 12 hits, including four for extra bases, but was never able to pull away due mainly to stranding 12 runners on base.

Hector Crespo led off the bottom of the first inning with a triple and Tewell followed with a flare single into left field that gave ASU what would turn out to be all the scoring it needed.

Tewell also drove in the Mountaineers' second run on a fielder's choice that followed Tyler Zupcic's leadoff double in the in the fourth. Appalachian tacked on single runs in the sixth and eighth innings to close out the scoring.

On a beautiful 73-degree evening, Hyatt struck out six and allowed only two hits over five innings to earn the win. All six hits surrendered by the Mountaineers' four pitchers were singles and the Hawks did not advance a runner past second base.

Offensively, Tewell, Crespo, Zack Briggs and Doug Jones had two hits apiece with both of Briggs' hits going for doubles. Crespo reached base three times from the leadoff spot in the order and scored two of ASU's four runs.

Appalachian and UMES continue their season-opening three-game series on Saturday at 3 p.m. at McNair Field.