Appalachian State 17, North Carolina Central 0
BOONE, N.C. ? Appalachian State University baseball scored in each of the first five innings and rolled to a 17-0 win over visiting North Carolina Central on Thursday afternoon at Beaver Field at Jim and Bettie Smith Stadium.
Appalachian (28-17) recorded its second shutout in four games and scored in double-figures for the third time in its last four outings. The victory completed an 18-2 April for ASU, which has won 14 in a row at home and 22 of its last 25 overall.
Thursday’s win was never in doubt, as the Mountaineers scored three runs in the first inning, six in the second, three more in the third and two apiece in the fourth and fifth to jump out to a 16-0 lead after five stanzas. ASU head coach Chris Pollard began making mass substitutions in the third inning and 24 different players wound up seeing action for the Apps.
Third baseman Isaac Harrow (Hickory, N.C./Hickory) led the Mountaineers with a 3-for-3 effort that included his 11th home run of the season, a double, sacrifice fly, four RBI and three runs scored. The senior has gone 13-for-16 at the plate over the past five games to move to second in the Southern Conference and into the top 25 nationally with a .432 batting average.
Six Appalachian pitchers combined for the shutout. Starter Matt Andress (Charlotte, N.C./South Mecklenburg) (3-5) allowed three hits and struck out three over three innings to earn the win.
The red-hot Mountaineers now embark on an eight-day break from game action to focus on final exams. They return to the field next Friday, May 8 when they open a three-game SoCon series at UNC Greensboro. First pitch is set for 7 p.m. at UNCG Baseball Stadium.
Elon 10, North Carolina A&T 7
ELON, N.C. -- The Elon Phoenix twice fought back from deficits, but blanked the North Carolina A&T Aggies over the last four innings to earn a 10-7 non-league baseball victory at Latham Park on Thursday night. With the win, Elon's sixth straight overall and 10th consecutive at home, the Phoenix improved to 30-13 on the year. Elon has now won 30+ in 10 straight years. A&T fell to 14-31.
Jared Kernodle (1-4) earned his first career victory after he threw a perfect three innings out of the bullpen. Kernodle fanned four. Thomas Girdwood came on for a perfect ninth to earn his 14th save as Elon set down the last 13 Aggie hitters.
Garrett Braun (0-2) took the loss after he allowed four runs on six hits in 2.1 innings of relief work.
The Aggies took the early lead when C.J. Beatty's double to left-center scored Xavier Macklin from first. After Beatty moved to third on a fly out, Jaron Neal lined a single to the gap in left to plate Beatty with the second A&T run.
Marquis Riley singled and went to third on Lester Rivenbark's double down the left field line to start the Aggie second. A two-out sac fly from George Hines brought home Riley as A&T built a 3-0 lead.
With two outs in the bottom of the third, Pat Irvine singled to center. Bennett Davis walked after Irvine swiped second. Both runners then scored when Hines dropped what should have been the third out in center.
Elon's half of the fourth started with back-to-back walks to Dallas Tarleton and Harry Austin. After a balk moved both runners up a bag Zeth Stone swung and missed for strike three, but the ball went to the back stop and the wild pitch allowed Stone to reach, Austin to take third and Tarleton to score the tying run. The Phoenix loaded the bases as Cory Harrilchak was hit by a pitch, extending his streak of safely reaching base to 76 games. Elon went ahead 4-3 when Chase Austin grounded into a double play that brought home Harry Austin. Stone scored the fifth tally of the game when Irvine tripled to left.
In the fifth, Hines' double to left was followed by a Macklin singled to drive in the run. Beatty ripped his second double of the night to plate to even the score at five. The third double of the inning, this one by Nick Rogers, drove in Beatty and the Aggies were back on top, 6-5. With two outs, Cyril Daniel lined a single to center, scoring Rogers.
Tarleton's eighth home run of the year began the Elon fifth as the solo shot moved the Phoenix within one at 7-6. Harry Austin followed with a bunt single and ended up on third when the throw to first sailed down the right field line. Stone's infield single brought home Harry Austin to even the score again. Stone stole second and moved to third on a Harrilchak ground out. Chase Austin delivered two more runs with his 15th home run of the year, this one a bomb to left that allowed Stone to trot home.
With one away in the eighth, Harry Austin singled up the middle. He then stole second and third. On his steal of third, Elon's season-high eighth of the night, the throw went into left and the 10th run of the game scored.
Chase Austin's two-run homer made him the only Phoenix player with a multi-RBI night. Both Irvine and Harry Austin went 3-for-3 and the later crossed the plate three times.
Beatty drove home two and scored twice in a 2-for-4 night at the plate to pace the Aggies. Macklin also score twice.
The Phoenix heads right back to the diamond tomorrow night to begin a three-game SoCon set with the Wofford Terriers. First pitch is set for 7 p.m.