BOONE, N.C. — App State opened its final home series of the season by securing a 6-4 victory against first-place South Alabama on Thursday night.
With
Tyler Tuthill exiting after allowing no runs in the first six innings, the game was scoreless until All-America slugger Ethan Wilson hit a two-run homer in the top of the seventh, but the Mountaineers responded with a five-run bottom of the seventh and collected, RPI-wise, their best win of the season.
Shane Roberts picked up the win in relief,
Cy Smith ended the top of the eighth with a big strikeout and
Andrew Papp recorded the eighth save of his career — and first this season.
App State improved to 10-9 in league play and remained in fourth place in the Sun Belt's East Division, ahead of fifth-place Georgia State (10-12) and sixth-place Coastal Carolina (7-12) with two league games left.
The five-run seventh began with a double from
Kendall McGowan, who scored on an RBI single from
Robbie Young.
Andrew Terrell beat out a potential double-play ball and advanced to third on a double by
Phillip Cole before
Tyler Leek singled over the leaping shortstop on a 1-2 pitch, allowing Terrell to score.
Carson Arnold put down a sacrifice bunt with runners at the corners, and a high throw to first base allowed Cole to come home with the go-ahead run.
Alex Leshock's high-chopped infield single in front of the plate enabled Leek to score without a throw, and Arnold raced home on
Bailey Welch's RBI groundout.
Leading 5-3 heading to the bottom of the eighth, App State (19-29 overall) added a key insurance run thanks to back-to-back doubles from Terrell and Cole.
South Alabama (28-19, 14-8) led off the ninth with a solo home run, but Papp entered the game and retired Wilson on a groundout before striking out the next batter and getting a game-ending groundout to short.
In Tuthill's last four starts, he's totaled 28.2 innings, 30 strikeouts and three earned runs allowed. He benefited from two outfield assists Thursday, as a right-field relay from Cole to
Luke Drumheller to Arnold for a tag at the plate prevented a first-inning run from scoring.
South Alabama loaded the bases with one out in the sixth, but Leshock made a strong throw home on a flyout to shallow center to prevent a possible sacrifice fly, and a lineout to McGowan in deep left ended the threat.
In the seventh, the South Alabama runner on first tried to advance to third on a single, but McGowan's throw from left field reached Terrell in time for a tag at the bag. Wilson homered in the next at-bat, but Roberts had two strikeouts in his 1.2 innings and was the pitcher of record when App State rallied in the bottom half of the frame.
McGowan, Cole and Leek all had two hits apiece as the Mountaineers totaled eight hits, including four doubles, while facing an undefeated starter on a team with the league's second-best ERA. Terrell scored two runs, and App State ended a nine-game skid against the Jaguars.
The series resumes Friday at 5 p.m. A Senior Day ceremony before first pitch will recognize eight Mountaineers.
