JONESBORO, Ark. – Appalachian State University baseball completed a doubleheader versus Arkansas State University on Saturday after Friday's scheduled game was postponed due to rain at Tomlinson Stadium. The Mountaineers (13-30, 5-17 Sun Belt) split the doubleheader, dropping game one, 6-1, and winning in game two, 6-3, in the first ever meeting between the new Sun Belt rivals.

Game One: Arkansas State 6, App State 1

Appalachian got into a 1-0 hole in first inning when starting pitcher Taylor Thurber gave up two singles before allowing ASU's Ty White to score on a single through the left side. However, Thurber would settle in and did not allow another hit until the seventh inning. The only Red Wolf to reach base from the second through the six inning did so on a throwing error by Mountaineer third baseman Carson Jones.

The Mountaineers best scoring opportunity came in the fifth inning. Jones got a lead-off hit through the right side of the infield and advanced to second on Brian Bauk's sacrifice bunt. ASU's starting pitcher David Owen walked Zach Hummel and then Brandon Burris reached on an error by the third baseman to load the bases. Michael Pierson drew a walk that gave Jones a free pass home.

Noah Holmes then hit a hard ground ball that bounced off the glove of the second baseman in the direction of the shortstop, who was able to make the play at second just before Pierson arrived to end the inning with the score tied 1-1.

Arkansas State offense errupted for five runs in the bottom of the seven inning to open up a 6-1 lead. The Red Wolves (17-23, 6-16 Sun Belt) tallied four hits and were aided by two Mountaineer errors and one wild pitch that allowed a run. Dallas DeVrieze entered the game in relief of Thurber and got the Apps out of the innings. DeVrieze didn't allow a hit in 1.1 innings of work, but the damage was done as the Mountaineers were held scoreless in the eighth and ninth innings.

Game two: App State 6, Arkansas State 3

The second ballgame of the day was scoreless through the top of the fifth inning as Travis Holden and ASU's Adam Grantham were holding the offenses at bay.

The Red Wolves broke the deadlock in the bottom fifth on Zach George's double into center field that just got over Bauk's head. Arkansas State added another run in the bottom of the seventh on a triple that brought Collin Massanelli across home plate. Ryan Ross entered the game and got the Mountaineers out of the inning.

The Mountaineers used an six-run eighth inning rally to seal the victory in game two. The Apps, down 2-0, banged out five-straight hits to start of the inning. Pierson, Conner Leonard, Holmes, and Drake Zupcic all hit singles followed by a two RBI double down the right field line by Jones.

The inning continued with Bauk reaching on a fielding error by the ASU third baseman which brought in another run. Dillon Dobson's first hit of the day drove Jones home and then Pierson hit is second single of the inning to allow Bauk to score from second. The Red Wolves finally got out of the inning when Coulton Lee struck out Holmes, stranding three Mountaineers on base.

Arkansas State made the game interesting with a rally of their own in the ninth. Robert Whaley came on to close and three times was one strike away from ending the game but was unable to get the final out. Whaley gave way to Caleb McCann with the bases loaded and the tying run at the plate. McCann forced Stuart Levy to ground out to shortstop to end the game. The Save was McCann's second of the year.

The Mountaineers will be back at Tomlinson Stadium tomorrow of the series finale versus Arkansas State. First pitch set for noon.