WILMINGTON, N.C. – Despite five runs in the second, Appalachian State University baseball was unable to outlast a pesky VMI squad in the 2017 season opener on Friday at Brooks Field.
The Mountaineers (0-1) seemed off to a slow start to begin the first inning of the year as the Keydets' (1-0) Matt Dunlevy homered to right field to go up 1-0. But the Black and Gold responded strong in the second inning, going plating five runners in a short burst. Senior Brian Bauk was able to bring home junior Tyler Stroup on a ground out to first, before junior Drake Zupcic singled to center field to drive home two runs – senior Avery Jackson and junior Chandler Seagle.
Freshman Calev Grubbs then hit a beauty to the wall, just out of the outstretched glove of the center-fielder to drive home Zupcic. To round out the top of the second inning, senior Matt Vernon rocketed one down the left field line to bring in Grubbs.
The game then moved to a defensive battle as neither pitcher allowed many opportunities.
The momentum switched in the bottom of the sixth after three scoreless half-innings. VMI used a fielding error to reach first and three walks to score one and load the bases before Collin Fleischer singled to center to drive around two. The Keydets' Matt Pita shot a liner to center field just over the head of an outstretched Will Herman glove to bring home one. After Fleischer was walked home, Pita scored on a sacrifice fly to give VMI the 11 runs needed to secure the win.
Junior Travis Holden got the call to start today on the mound. The right-hander finished with seven strikeouts, six hits and five runs in 5.0 innings pitched. Senior reliever Sean Mason received the loss.
The Mountaineers will continue their four-game Hughes Bros. Challenge tournament in Wilmington, N.C. on Saturday when they play two: George Mason at 10 a.m. and a rematch with VMI at 6 p.m. The final game on Sunday is against host-team UNC Wilmington at 2 p.m.
