HICKORY, N.C. – Playing at L.P. Frans Stadium for the first time since 2016, App State scored five runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to complete a run-rule victory over UNC Asheville, 11-1, Tuesday.
With App State (10-13, 3-3) leading 6-1,
Austin St. Laurent led off the seventh inning with a single through the right side, and stole second ahead of a
Luke Drumheller RBI double into the right field corner.
Alex Aguila was then hit by a pitch, and
RJ Johnson followed with an RBI single into right to score Drumheller, and increase the lead to 8-1. Aguila scored on a wild pitch one batter later.
The Mountaineers went on to load the bases, and pinch-hitter
Dalton Williams pushed a run across by drawing a walk.
Hayden Cross was then hit by a pitch, pushing the advantage to 11-1, with the 10-run margin capping the night.
The Mountaineers' pitching effort was equally impressive.
Jason Cornatzer earned the win, going four innings, allowing just one run on one hit. He walked two and struck out six, including a stretch in which he fanned five consecutive batters.
Grey LaSpaluto pitched the final three innings, giving up just one hit and picking up a strikeout, to earn a three-inning save.
App State's offense wasted no time in establishing an early lead.
Andrew Terrell walked to open the bottom of the first inning, and
Dylan Rogers followed with an RBI triple to put App State ahead, 1-0, just two batters in.
Then in the second inning,
Phillip Cole laced an RBI single to center field, scoring Johnson and Aguila who began the inning with back-to-back singles, to make it 3-0. App State added two more in the third inning on a two-run double from Johnson into the left field corner, scoring
Andrew Greckel and Drumheller, who reached on a walk and a hit by pitch respectively.
The Bulldogs (9-14, 4-2) scored their only run in the fourth inning, when they put runners at the corners with nobody out, and plated the lead runner on a ground ball double-play, which Cornatzer used to minimize damage and prevent a big inning.
App State plated one more run in the sixth inning when Rogers doubled to right and later scored on an error. Rogers and Johnson each finished with three-hit ballgames, while Cole enjoyed a two-hit night.
The Mountaineers will return home to Smith Stadium this weekend to host Texas State in a three-game series. First pitch on Friday is set for 6 p.m., with game two set for 3 p.m. Saturday. The series concludes with an 11 a.m. first pitch on Sunday. All three games will be broadcast on ESPN+.
The 2022 App State Baseball season is presented by Chick-fil-A.
