LAFAYETTE, La. – For only the fourth time since 2010, Appalachian State University baseball launched four home runs en route to a 12-4 victory over No. 14 Louisiana on Saturday afternoon at Russo Park.
The Mountaineers (9-10, 1-1 Sun Belt) had four players with multi-RBI performances as they handed the Ragin' Cajuns (10-6, 1-1 Sun Belt) just their second loss all-time in games started by pitcher sophomore Nick Lee (19-2).
Appalachian handed 14th-ranked Louisiana its third game this season with 10-plus hits allowed and second time with 10-plus runs allowed as the bats caught fire early in the second inning when Drake Zupcic singled to center field to score both Matt Brill and Chandler Seagle. Calev Grubbs followed that up immediately with another two-RBI single to center field, plating both Zupcic and Tyler Stroup.
Matt Vernon led the way offensively with three hits on five at-bats getting a solo leadoff home run in the third inning. Stroup also got a leadoff solo homer, jacking the 3-1 hitter's count pitch to left field in the seventh, for his second home run of the week and fourth of the season.
Brian Bauk continued on with the steady offensive attack with a clutch, two-out RBI single to right field in the eighth inning to bring in Vernon.
The derby continued into the top of the ninth in the final at-bat for the Mountaineers. Jason Curtis knocked a moonshot to left to bring in Grubbs and Zupcic – his first home run of the season. Conner Leonard then tight-roped one down the left-field line for a two-RBI home run – his first of the season.
Right-handed pitcher Colin Schmid earned his third win of the year, going 7.0 innings and just allowing six hits and four runs, only two earned, while striking out four of 30 batters faced. Closing the game for App State was Reed Howell, who gave 2.0 fine innings, only allowing two hits and punching out two to get the save.
The Mountaineers will conclude the series against No. 14 Louisiana on Sunday, March 19 with it all knotted up at 1-1. First pitch is scheduled for 12 p.m. eastern. Fans can stream and listen to the finale online by heading over to the schedule page on appstatesports.com/baseball.
