BOONE, N.C. — A pair of three-run innings gave South Alabama an early lead in a 13-6 win against Appalachian State on Saturday.
Graduation and senior day ceremonies are scheduled to precede an 11 a.m. series finale Sunday at Jim and Bettie Smith Stadium. The Mountaineers' roster includes seven seniors:
Bobby Hampton,
Drew Beck,
Brandon Boone,
Kaleb Bowman,
CJ Brown,
Joel McDaniel and
Riley Smith.
Kendall McGowan hit his sixth homer of the season Saturday and also doubled off the top of the wall to lead a 10-hit attack in Game 2 for App State (21-26, 12-13). Ethan Wilson and Wells Davis each homered twice, giving them a combined 19 homers on the season, for South Alabama (28-22, 14-12).
In addition to a strong showing from McGowan (2-for-3, two runs), Smith went 2-for-4 with a two-run single. McGowan's leadoff double in a four-run eighth set up an RBI single from Brown (1-for-2), and a walk to McDaniel put two runners on as Smith delivered a two-run single.
Bailey Welch capped that inning with a single to score
Tyler Leek.
South Alabama took a 3-0 lead in the first inning on a two-out, three-run homer from Davis, whose flyball to left off Boone appeared to be a routine out before carrying and carrying to the point that it hit off the top of the wall.
App State's first four batters reached base in the bottom of the first, with a pickoff erasing a leadoff single, and
Phillip Cole's one-out sacrifice fly with the bases loaded scored Welch. A flyout with two runners in scoring position got starting pitcher Patrick McBride out of a jam, and South Alabama took a 6-1 lead with a three-run third. Wilson hit a leadoff homer, and Davis followed a one-out single with a two-run homer.
On the mound, App State's
Jack Hartman entered with two away in the fourth inning and had three strikeouts in 1.1 scoreless innings of relief. Hampton relieved
Austin Primm with two away in the seventh inning and gave up one run in 2.1 innings.
App State Baseball would like to thank AutoStar Nissan of Boone for serving as the presenting sponsor of the 2019 season.
