GREENSBORO, N.C. — Appalachian State University baseball outlasted North Carolina A&T on Wednesday at War Memorial Stadium, 12-10, for its second win in as many days. Appalachian was powered to the win by the long ball with three different Mountaineers (9-21, 2-10 Sun Belt) combining to hit four home runs.
The Aggies (3-23, 1-10 Big MEAC) got on the board in first inning with the aid of a wild pitch and a throwing error to take an early lead. Michael Pierson led off the second inning and drove the fourth pitch he saw over the right field wall to even to score.
After A&T tacked on a run in the bottom of the second and a scoreless third inning, the Mountaineers exploded for seven runs in the top of the fourth. Noah Holmes led off the inning, drew a walk and then advanced on Grayson Atwood's sacrifice bunt. Drake Zupcic singled through the left side on the infield, driving Holmes across the plate.
After another walk, Brandon Burris hit a double that drove in two more runs. The inning seemed to be over when Dillon Dobson popped up to the right of the pitcher's mound, but the Aggie second baseman dropped the ball allowing Burris to score and keeping the inning alive. Pierson stepped up to the plate and blasted his second home run of the day. Conner Leonard followed up Pierson's homer with one of his own and Appalachian opened an 8-2 lead.
The Aggies didn't go down easy, scoring four runs in the fourth to make it a two run ballgame. After retiring the Mountaineers in order in the fifth, A&T loaded the bases and plated two runs to tie the game at eight apiece.
It didn't take long for Appalachian to regain the lead in the sixth inning when Brian Bauk scored on a wild pitch. Then Holmes doubled off the center field wall, driving in two more runs. The Mountaineers would lead the rest of the way. Dobson hit a solo home run in the eighth to extent the lead to 12-8.
NC A&T made a final push in the bottom of the ninth on A.J. Hunt's two run homer, but was to complete the comeback.
Appalachian State will host Troy this weekend for a three-game Sun Belt conference series at Beaver Field. Game times are scheduled for Friday at 6 p.m., Saturday at 2 p.m., and Sunday at 1 p.m.
