GREENSBORO, N.C. - App State baseball dropped game one 16-7 at UNCG on Friday to begin a weekend road series against the Spartans.
App State (2-3) struck first for the third-straight game as Hayden Cross' double scored Jacob Whitley in the second.
UNCG (2-3) answered App State in the bottom half of the inning with an eight-run second on five hits to lead 8-1 after just two complete. The Spartans added a run in the fifth and two in the seventh to extend their lead to 11-2 through seven.
App State did not go quietly into the night. The Mountaineers fought back to put up a five-spot in the top of the eighth, pulling within four at 11-7.
A two RBI-double by H. Cross, a RBI-double by Vasili Kaloudis and an RBI-single from Dalton Williams highlighted the Mountaineers' offensive seventh.
However, UNCG answered yet again, matching App State in the bottom of the frame with five runs to win 16-7.
App State outhit the Spartans 12-11 with five doubles, tying the fourth most in a single game since 2013. Eight different Mountaineers recorded a hit in a season high outing of 12.
H. Cross tallied three doubles on the night, the second most by a Mountaineer in a single game since 2013. Cross finished the night 3-for-4 up at the plate with three RBIs and two runs scored. Whitley also went 3-for-4 to go along with a run scored.
Defensively, the Mountaineers surrendered a season high of runs (16) and hits (11).
Tyler Tuthill (0-2) was credited with the loss on the mound for App State. Tuthill tossed 3.0 innings in his second start of the season, allowing eight runs on five hits and walking five.
Freshman Seth Whitley made his first collegiate pitching appearance Friday.
App State will look to even the series at one game apiece on Saturday. Saturday's first pitch is slated for 2 p.m. at UNCG Baseball Stadium and will be streamed on ESPN+.
The 2022 App State baseball season is presented by Chick-fil-A.
