BOONE, N.C. – App State baseball closes out the regular season with a three-game series against Troy, Thursday through Saturday at Riddle-Pace Field. App State is looking to clinch a top-six seed in the Sun Belt Tournament, which would advance them into the double-elimination portion of the bracket. Thursday and Friday's games will begin at 7 p.m. ET, with the finale on Saturday set for 4 p.m. ET. All three games will be broadcast on ESPN+.
SCOUTING THE MOUNTAINEERS
App State (26-21, 15-11) is coming off their first conference sweep of the season, taking all three games at home against Arkansas State last weekend. The Mountaineers won one-run games on Friday and Saturday, and then scored eight runs in the seventh inning on Sunday to run-rule the Red Wolves, 16-4, thanks to a walk-off grand slam from
Andrew Terrell in his final swing at Smith Stadium. App State has recorded a program-record six series wins in Sun Belt play, and their 15 conference wins are their most since 2012. App State is led offensively by the reigning Sun Belt Player of the Week,
CJ Boyd, who is batting .344 with 12 home runs and 42 RBI.
Golston Gillespie leads the squad with 14 home runs and 44 RBI, while
Andrew Terrell has a team-best 13 stolen bases and is batting .400 in conference play. On the mound, App State is led by
Xander Hamilton, who ranks eighth in the nation with 103 strikeouts, while boasting a 6-1 record in Sun Belt play.
SCOUTING THE TROJANS
Troy (36-17, 16-11) is also coming off a weekend sweep, defeating Marshall in three consecutive games on the road. The Trojans began the season 11-0 in non-conference play, and have since won six of their nine Sun Belt series on the year. Troy also recorded a notable non-conference win a couple of weeks ago, taking down SEC foe Auburn on the road on April 25. Troy is led at the plate by Shane Lewis who has clubbed 26 home runs this season, which ranks second in the nation. William Sullivan is also batting .328 on the year with 16 long balls and 48 RBIs, while ranking fourth in the country with 24 hit by pitches. On the mound, Grayson Stewart has been the anchor of the Troy rotation with an 8-2 record and a 3.27 ERA in 13 starts. Noah Manning has been the Troy closer, recording nine saves and a 3.73 ERA. Troy's Achilles heal this season has been defense, as they rank last in the Sun Belt with a .727 fielding percentage.
SERIES HISTORY
App State and Troy have faced off 21 times, all since the Mountaineers joined the Sun Belt in 2015. The Trojans lead the all-time series 16-5, including last season when the Trojans took two of three to close out the year. The Mountaineers won the finale, 6-3, scoring the go-ahead runs in the seventh inning after waiting out a lengthy rain delay.
WHAT'S AT STAKE
App State has already secured a spot in the Sun Belt Tournament, where they have won a game each of the past two seasons. This year, seeds seven through ten play an elimination game to begin the tournament, while the top six seeds advance to a double-elimination bracket. App State can secure a top-six seed with a series win, and finish as high as third place in the conference if they can sweep the Trojans and Louisiana drops their series to Southern Miss.
FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS
Xander Hamilton was named the Sun Belt Pitcher of the Week for the second time this season, after recording a program-record 15 strikeouts across eight scoreless, and one-hit, innings in the Mountaineers May 5 victory over No. 8 Coastal Carolina. Hamilton has now recorded a league-best 103 strikeouts on the season, which ranks 8
th nationally, and is the most by an App State pitcher in a single season. Hamilton previously was named pitcher of the week following a 13-strikeout performance in a win over Louisiana. Hamilton has stuck out nine or more batters in seven of his 13 starts this season. App State is 11-2 when Hamilton starts, including an 8-1 mark in Sun Belt play. Hamilton's eight wins this season are tied for 5
th in the Sun Belt, and tied for 10
th for a Mountaineer in a single season.
BASHIN' BOYD
CJ Boyd was named the Sun Belt Player of the Week on Tuesday, following an outstanding weekend against Arkansas State. Boyd hit four home runs in the series, going for 7-for-14 (.500) at the plate, while also doubling, scoring seven runs, and driving in seven more. Boyd has enjoyed a power surge as of late, hitting seven home runs in his last eight games, beginning with a walk-off home run against JMU on April 30 that won the rubber game for the Mountaineers in 10 innings. Boyd has hit safely in 11 straight games, going 25-for-53 (.472) over that span, raising his average by 64 points, to .344, which ranks 11
th in the Sun Belt. The ECU transfer also ranks 10
th in slugging percentage (.663). Boyd has also tallied 13 doubles and 10 stolen bases this season, becoming the first Mountaineer since Wes Hobson (2010) to boast double-digit home runs, doubles, and stolen bases in the same season.
FAST & PHYSICAL
In his postseason press conference last June,
Kermit Smith said he wanted his 2023 team to play a fast and physical style of baseball. Through 47 games this season, App State has tallied 161 extra-base hits, including 55 home runs, with 11 different players leaving the park. On the bases, the Mountaineers have swiped 60 bags in 70 tries (86%), and have had 15 different players steal a base. By comparison, last year's squad finished the campaign with 29 home runs and 36 stolen bases in 53 games. The Mountaineers 55 home runs rank 7
th in a single season and are the most since 2010 (59), while their 60 steals are their most since 2013 (100).
UP NEXT
App State will open up Sun Belt Tournament action on either Tuesday or Wednesday, depending on final seeding which will be determined at the conclusion of play on Saturday. The Sun Belt Tournament runs through Sunday, May 28, with all games airing on ESPN+.
