WILMINGTON, N.C. – In the final game of the Hughes Bros. Challenge, Appalachian State University faced-off against the host-team UNC Wilmington in a wild, dramatic, back-and-forth affair on Sunday afternoon at Brooks Field.
The Mountaineers (1-3) fell 6-5 on a walkoff single through the middle after leading the 24th-ranked Seahawks (3-0) 5-3 going into the ninth.
Momentum seemed to change a little bit toward UNCW's way when the leadoff hitter to the bottom of the ninth, Robbie Thorburn, reached first on a struck out swinging, past ball. After that, the Seahawks worked the small ball game and brought around the two runs they needed to win.
Appalachian once again received incredible pitching from its bullpen. Making his first career start after 30 relief appearances, was junior Luke Watts. The right-handed thrower went a career-long 5.0 innings, allowed just five hits, two runs and struck out a career-high seven batters – more than doubling his previous career high of three.
Watts finished the day throwing an impressive 60 strikes on 97 pitches for the afternoon.
Providing relief on the day was senior Sean Mason, junior Tristan Helms, sophomore Will Herman and senior Matt Schaeffer. UNC Wilmington went to the bullpen quite a bit on the day, using six pitchers in the four-hour game.
The Black and Gold knew they needed to be able to put pressure on the pitcher in order to contend with nationally ranked UNCW's offense, and they did just that, having five players get a hit on the day.
Brian Bauk went 1-2 on the day, scoring an RBI and crossing the plate twice. He also drew two walks. Junior Drake Zupcic continues the hot start to the season by going 2-2 on the day, with one run and one walk.
Perhaps the best eyes at the plate for the Mountaineers came from App State freshman third-baseman and leadoff hitter, Calev Grubbs. In five total plate appearances, Grubbs drew three walks and went 1-2, crossing the plate once as well. Through the first weekend, the freshman leads the team in batting (.308), slugging (.385), on-base (.500), runs (three) and hits (four).
Senior Matt Vernon once again came up in the clutch for App as he got his lone hit in the eighth with the lead only one. Vernon drilled a double down the right-field line to drive home Grubbs, extending the lead.
The Mountaineers will have the midweek off before traveling to Boiling Springs, N.C. where they will play Gardner-Webb in a three-game series. Game 1 begins on Friday, Feb. 24 at 4 p.m. The game will be streamed live on the Big South Network.
