BOONE, N.C. –
Jackson Steensma struck out the side in the ninth inning to complete a four-out save, helping App State secure a 4-3 victory over the College of Charleston at Smith Stadium on Tuesday.
Steensma (save, 3) was summoned with two aboard in the eighth inning, including the tying run at third base. He needed just one pitch to get a flyout to center field and escape the jam with the lead intact. Then, after beginning the ninth inning with a looking strikeout, Steensma followed with back-to-back swinging strikeouts, and needed just 14 pitches to record the final four outs of the win.
With the game tied 2-2 in the seventh inning,
Golston Gillespie came through with a two-out, two-run single to right field, scoring
Austin St. Laurent and
CJ Boyd to put the Mountaineers in front, 4-2. Gillespie also opened the scoring with a second-inning home run, his sixth of the season. He finished the day 2-for-4 with 3 RBIs.
Collin Welch returned from injury to make the start for the Mountaineers (11-8, 2-1). The right-hander faced the minimum in three innings, helped by a pair of runners called out on the bases in the third. Welch allowed just one hit and one walk and lowered his ERA to 0.82 on the season.
Dante Chirico followed with two innings of work, allowing just an unearned run in the fourth inning.
Grey LaSpaluto worked a scoreless sixth inning, and
Caleb Cross (win, 3-0) earned the win in relief.
App State took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the fourth, loading the bases, and plating a run on an
Alex Aguila RBI single. Despite leaving nine men on base, the Mountaineers went 5-for-10 with runners in scoring position, while holding the Cougars to just 1-for-9.
The Mountaineers continue their homestand with a three-game weekend series against Georgia State. All three games will be broadcast on ESPN+.
