BOONE, N.C. – Despite six runs on seven hits, Appalachian State University baseball dropped an 11-6 decision on Sunday in the series finale against South Alabama on Sunday afternoon at Smith Stadium.
The Mountaineers (19-32, 8-19 Sun Belt) were led by home runs from Matt Vernon and Conner Leonard while the Jaguars (34-18, 20-7) finished with 12 hits on the day.
Vernon finished with a 3-for-4 day, having two RBI in the process, while Jason Curtis had another strong day from the plate, going 2-for-5 with two runs – extending his reached base streak to an impressive 16.
On the other side, Chandler Seagle had a day protecting the bases, catching two would-be base stealers in the game.
All seniors academically pitched on the mound for Appalachian on Sunday. Dallas DeVrieze got his first start of the season, going 3.2 innings and striking out three before Matt Brill went the next three, getting four strikeouts and allowing just two hits.
Sean Mason and Matt Schaeffer finished off the final 2.1 innings, striking out three between them and allowing just two hits total.
Appalachian actually took a 1-0 lead in the first, after Curtis and Vernon hit back-to-back singles and a passed ball moved them to second and third. Tyler Stroup then walked to give Drake Zupcic the chance to get a sacrifice fly.
The Jaguars then went up 2-1 before the Black and Gold were able to once again score off a sacrifice fly, this time by Brian Bauk.
A five-spot in the fourth by South Alabama made things more difficult but the Mountaineers didn't give up as Vernon and Leonard hit their two-RBI home runs to give them six runs.
Appalachian State will conclude its regular season next week, first with a midweek game in Shelby, N.C. against No. 16 Wake Forest at Keeter Stadium (6 p.m. start). Then, App will conclude its Sun Belt schedule with a three-game series against the defending College World Series Champions, Coastal Carolina, that begins Thursday at 2 p.m.
