SAN MARCOS, Texas — A slow start was too much to overcome for Appalachian State, which lost 7-2 at Texas State in the final game of their first Sun Belt Conference series.
A two-run homer in the first inning, three-run homer in the second inning and solo homer in the third inning helped Texas State establish a 7-0 lead Sunday. Relief pitchers
Cameron Kepley,
Tristan Helms,
Reed Howell and
Kaleb Bowman combined to allow one run on two hits over the final 6.1 innings, as the bullpen for App State (5-12, 0-3) retired 17 of the first 18 batters it faced, and the Mountaineers broke through with two runs in the eighth inning.
Riley Smith hit his first home run in an App State uniform, and
Alex Leshock followed a walk to
CJ Brown with an RBI triple. Leshock's 2-for-4 day involved two extra-base hits, as he doubled to begin the game.
"Taking the positive out of today, it was nice to see Kep, Tris, Reed and Bow hold them to two hits over the last 6.1 innings," App State head coach
Kermit Smith said. "We are finding a way to collect some extra-base hits right now at the plate, but we aren't finding that single to score a guy. There are some runs out there to be had, we just have to keep taking convicted swings and we'll start scoring."
Derek Scheible, Luke Sherley and John Wuthrich homered as Texas State (13-4-1, 3-0) pushed its unbeaten streak to 11 games.
Travis Holden took the loss for App State, which returns to action Tuesday with a 5 p.m. home game against Wake Forest, and Wuthrich's third-inning homer was the only blemish against Kepley in his 3.2 innings of relief. Kepley posted two strikeouts while retiring 11 of the 12 batters he faced.
Helms retired all three batters he faced before leaving with one out in the seventh inning, and Howell also retired the first three batters he faced. A single and two walks in the eighth inning triggered an appearance by Bowman, who induced a foul-out with the bases loaded.
App State had chances to score in the early innings. Leshock reached third base with two out following his leadoff double off Texas State starter Zachary Leigh, and Brown reached third with one out in the third thanks to a wild pitch that followed his double.
After facing Wake Forest at home, the Mountaineers travel to UNC Asheville on Wednesday and welcome Georgia Southern to Boone for their first Sun Belt home series of the season.
Season tickets can be purchased by clicking
HERE for the App State Ticket Central site, by calling the Appalachian State athletics ticket office at
(828) 262-2079 or by going to the ticket office, located at the Holmes Center, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekdays.
Season tickets are available at just $85 for adults, $75 for App State staff/faculty (limit of two) or senior citizens (limit of two) and $45 for youth (ages 3-12).
Single-game tickets can be purchased by clicking
HERE as well as by calling or visiting the ticket office. Weekend games (Fri-Sun) are $10 for adults and $5 for youth. Weekday games are $7 for adults and $3 for youth.
