BOONE, N.C. – Appalachian State University baseball had another back-and-forth, close battle but was unable to secure wins in the doubleheader against Texas State, falling 7-4 and 2-0 on Saturday.
GAME ONE: TEXAS STATE 7, APP STATE 4
The Mountaineers (10-13, 1-4 Sun Belt) battled back after a grueling 11-inning game on Friday to go toe-to-toe with the Bobcats (15-8, 4-1 Sun Belt) in Game One.
Appalachian was able to turn back-to-back singles by Calev Grubbs and Jason Curtis in to the first run of the game by either squad when Matt Vernon hit a sacrifice fly to left field to bring in Grubbs in the first inning.
Texas State was able to take the lead after one run in the second and three runs in the third.
Drake Zupcic doubled to right field before getting to advance to third on a failed pickoff attempt in the fifth inning. He would later score off a wild pitch to help App State inch closer. A Brian Bauk shot through the middle and a Conner Leonard walk set up a bunt opportunity for Tyler Stroup to reach first.
In the seventh, Appalachian tied the game at 4-4 when Vernon tripled to center field before Avery Jackson drove him home on a groundout.
The Bobcats would put up two in he eighth and one in the ninth to secure the wins.
On the mound in Game One, Colin Schmid went 7.1 innings, allowing six runs and nine hits, while striking two batters before Matt Schaeffer went the final 1.2 innings, allowing just one run and having one strikeout.
GAME TWO: TEXAS STATE 2, APP STATE 0
The Black and Gold and Texas State spent the second game in a pitchers' duel on Saturday, squaring off Luke Watts against Nicholas Fraze.
In the low-scoring affair, Watts went six complete innings, allowing just three hits total and the two runs while striking out a game-high six batters on the day.
The Bobcats clawed away by getting one run in the first inning and the sixth inning to get the win, but it wouldn't be without a fight.
Avery Jackson had his best outing of the season, going 2-3 and drawing one walk on the day. Matt Vernon, Brian Bauk, Tyler Stroup and Drake Zupcic all also got hits on the day to help the effort.
Sean Mason provided relief on the mound for App State, going 2.2 innings and not allowing a hit or a run, striking out three. Tristan Helms also saw time out of the bullpen, seeing three batters and allowing no hits or runs, striking out one.
The Mountaineers will now focus on their midweek matchup as they conclude their five-game homestand at Smith Stadium. Appalachian hosts in-state ACC foe Wake Forest on Tuesday, March 28 with first pitch scheduled for 5 p.m.
