Daily Archives: February 28, 2012

Rider (3-1) @ Appalachian State Baseball (5-2)

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Rider will only plays its second series of the season, and first games in thirteen days when it comes to Smith Stadium for a four game set which includes a doubleheader on Saturday. Rider played back to back doubleheaders against Norfolk State and took the final three games of the series. Their first game went 14 innings and the remaining games were only seven inning affairs. Oddly, Rider has only played 35 innings of baseball in four games. The Broncos pitching staff is sporting a 1.30 ERA.

In Game 1, the Mountaineers jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the fourth inning and never allowed Rider to mount a serious comeback. Rider scored in the fifth and eighth innings, but Appalachian answered in the bottom half of the inning on both occasions. Daniel Kassouf (.357) collected three hits while Jeremy Dowdy (.320) notched three RBI’s. Will Callaway (.355) also added two hits, scored twice and added an RBI.

Ryan Arrowood (2-0, 2.16) picked up his second win of the season in 5.2 innings, while striking out 7 batters on 105 pitches. Nathan Hyatt picked up his fourth save of the season. Appalachian improved to 6-2 on the season, winning its fourth straight game.

Seth Grant (1-1, 2.70) started Game 2 of the series and picked up his first win of the season., as the Mountaineers cruied to a 10-4 win.It was the sixth straight win for the Mountaineers. In the 100 pitch effort, Grant only allowed one run while allowing six hits. He left the game after 5 innings and Appalachian holding a 5-1 lead that they would never relinquish.

Appalachian amassed 12 hits in the game but that number was only spread among 5 players. Tyler Zupcic (.281), Tyler Tewell (.387) and Jeremy Dowdy (.367) collected three hits apiece with Daniel Kassouf (.371)  adding two hits, one being his third homerun of the season.

In Game 3 of the series, the second game of the doubleheader, the Mountaineers took advantage of erratic pitching from Rider and put an eight spot on the board in the second inning and never looked back in a 22-4 rout. The Mountaineers drew 12 walks and added 17 hits. All but two position players snagged a hit for the Mountaineers, substitutions included. Tyler Tewell upped his average to .394 on the season. Jordan Jessup picked up his first career win out of the bullpen.

Game 4 of the series saw more of the same from the Mountaineers. In a 15-4 romp, the Apps tallied 13 hits, and scored all of their runs in four innings. Hector Crespo (.289) led the offensive attack with 3 hits, 5 RBI and his first home run of the season. Noah Holmes (.320) added four hits, two being doubles, with 2 RBI.

Five Mountaineer pitchers combined to scatter five hits, but give up four runs to Rider. Rob Marcello (2-0, 1.12) started the game but did not factor into the decision. Chad Farmer picked up the win to move to 1-0 on the season. Appalachian has now won its seventh straight game and improves to 9-2 on the season.

Appalachian State Women’s Basketball: Chattanooga Postgame

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The Mountaineers had a chance to win the conference championship outright, but the Chattanooga Lady Mocs had other plans. Chattanooga led by ten at the half and held on for a 80-71 win. The win did not help the Mocs tournament seed, they were already guaranteed the third seed, but it did not stop them from shooting lights out most of the night. The Mocs shot just below 50% from the field, hit eight three pointers, and was also 20-24 from the free throw line. Appalachian had several opportunities to tie in the second half, but committed costly turnovers down the stretch. Anna Freeman led the team with 22 points, 6 rebounds, 6 assists, three steals, and two blocks. Freeman also became ASU’s all time lead shot blocker.

The Mountaineers still share the conference championship with Davidson, and will be able to call themselves conference champions and hang another banner in the Holmes Center next season. However, the players and coaches are sure to have a bad taste in their mouth. I am sure the team is hungry to face whoever stands in their way to winning the conference tournament and berth to the NCAA tournament. Their first opponent will be the winner of Georgia Southern and Western Carolina. The Eagles have given these Mountaineers fits in the past and the Catamounts have played a lot better in the second half of the season. Appalachian has the best road record in the league at 11-4 and won their only nuetral court game.