BOONE, N.C. – Matt Brill becomes just the seventh Mountaineer since 2010 to hit two home runs in a single game, however, Appalachian State University baseball couldn't hang on for the win, falling in a dramatic 5-3 loss to UNC Asheville on Tuesday night at Greenwood Field.
The Mountaineers (18-27) were able to load the bases with two outs in the ninth, but the Bulldogs (18-24) were able to force a groundout to save the victory.
After Brill's 2-for-3, two homer night, Tyler Stroup led the rest of the hitters with two hits and two walks on the night, while Matt Vernon and Jason Curtis both finished with one hit.
Stroup's single in the first inning gave him his 12th-straight game reaching base – the longest of any Mountaineer this season and the third longest in the past two years.
The Bulldogs led from the first two innings, scoring two before Appalachian was able to plate one in the fourth inning. Stroup drew a five-pitch walk before Avery Jackson sacrificed him to second with a bunt before Brian Bauk was also able to draw a walk. Conner Leonard was then able to force the shortstop into a difficult position with a well-hit ball that allowed Stroup to score.
Brill was then able to hit his third and fourth jacks on the year in the fifth inning and in the seventh, with the final one being a first-pitch homer deep to center field. He joins Jaylin Davis, Dillon Dobson, Jerod Faggart, Noah Holmes, Michael Pierson and Wes Hobson as the only Mountaineers since 2010 to hit multiple home runs in a single game.
The Black and Gold bullpen had a fine outing with Bobby Hampton going 4.1 innings, allowing five hits, one earned run and striking out four batters. Matt Schaeffer and Dallas DeVrieze provided the next two innings of support before Sean Mason went 0.2 innings and struck out two.
Tristan Helms faced one batter and got the lefty hitter out before Reed Howell closed, going 0.2 innings and striking out two, allowing one run.
The Mountaineers will travel to Alabama to face Troy in a key conference showdown this weekend. Game One is set to begin at 7 p.m. ET. All three games of the series will be broadcast live on ESPN3 and the ESPN app.
