HICKORY, N.C. – After having his 2022 season cut short due to injury, App State right-hander
Xander Hamilton returned to the rotation as the Friday night starter in 2023. Friday night he struck out six batters in five innings to set the tone in the Mountaineers' 5-2 victory over Queens.
Hamilton struck out two in the first inning to begin his night, and the energy carried over to the offense right out of the gates. Reigning Sun Belt Freshman of the Year
Austin St. Laurent blasted an opposite-field two-run home run in the first inning, scoring
Xavier Moronta, who singled one-batter prior, to give App State a 2-0 lead.
Leading 5-1 in the fourth inning, Hamilton faced his first jam of the night. The righty was able to dance out of trouble however, picking up back-to-back strikeouts followed by an inning-ending flyout, to strand a pair of baserunners, while he conceded just one run in the frame.
App State added to their early lead with a three-run third inning, highlighted by a two-run single from
Hayden Cross.
The Mountaineer bullpen was exceptional in back of Hamilton.
Caleb Cross struck out five batters in three scoreless innings, and
Jackson Steensma recorded the save by striking out the side in the ninth in his first collegiate outing.
On the night, App State pitching struck out 14 Queens batters, while allowing just six hits. Offensively, the Mountaineers finished with nine hits on the night with
Luke Drumheller,
Dylan Rogers, and Moronta all enjoying multi-hit games.
App State and Queens will meet for the middle game of their three-game weekend series Saturday at 1 p.m. The Mountaineers will start right-hander
Bradley Wilson, while the Royals will counter with lefty Joey Ruller.
