Davidson has lost four games in row, most recently losing at North Carolina and NC State. The Wildcats are hitting .236 as a team and are averaging 4.5 runs per game, while also striking out an average 8.8 times per game. The Davidson defense is averaging 2.7 errors per game and holds a .931 fielding percentage.
Appalachian has won eight straight games, highlighted by two wins over SEC Louisiana State and one victory over ACC Duke. The Mountaineers are hitting .291 as a team and are averaging 10 hits per game. Appalachian has only allowed 33 runs in 12 games this season with the pitching staff holding an impressive 2.55 ERA. Appalachian has drawn 50 walks this season and 13 batters have been hit by a pitch.
Game 1: ASU Sr. RHP Ryan Arrowood (2-0, 2.16 ERA) vs. DC Sr. RHP Ryan Overcash (1-2, 3.26 ERA)
Appalachian rolled to its ninth straight win behind the strength of its bats on a cold, windy day at Smith Stadium. The first four batters in the Mountaineer lineup collected 11 of the 16 Mountaineer hits on the day. Daniel Kassouf (.426, 3 HR, 13 RBI) had four hits and drove in two runs. Tyler Zupcic (.327, 1 HR, 14 RBI) had three hits, scored three times, drove in two runs, and stole two bases. Will Callaway(.340, 11 SB, 16 R ) had two hits, two RBI, stole two bases and also scored twice.
The windy day did not allow for the best pitching conditions, but Ryan Arrowood (3-0, 3.27) was still able to get through 5.1 innings, striking out seven batters, but walking four and giving up four runs. Tyler Moore( , 0.90) was excellent in relief, squashing a Davidson rally and not allowing a hit in 2.2 innings. Josh Wilson pitched a scoreless ninth, lowering his ERA to 7.71.
Game 2: ASU Sr. RHP Seth Grant (1-1, 2.70 ERA) vs. DC Sr. RHP Brian Russell (1-0, 2.76 ERA)
A close game was no longer in the fifth inning when Appalachian scored nine runs en route to its tenth straight win in a 16-3 thrashing of Davidson. It was a 4-3 game heading into the bottom of the fifth inning when two Davidson pitchers combined for six walks and allowed Daniel Kassouf (.424, 18 RBI) to hit his fourth homerun of the season with the bases loaded. Kassouf had both of his hits and all five of his RBI in the fifth inning. Hector Crespo (.294, 1 HR, 9 RBI, 9 SB) also added a pair of hits and three RBI and also collected his team leading 15th walk of the season. Overall the Mountaineers pounded out 14 hits and drew six walks to only four strikeouts.
Seth Grant (2-1, 2.94) saw his ERA rise slightly, allowing three runs in eight innings. Grant struck out five batters and only surrendered one walk. Midweek starter Jamie Nunn finished off Davidson in the ninth inning with only seven pitches. The win gave Appalachian its first opening series conference win since 1999.
Game 3: ASU Jr. LHP Rob Marcello (2-0, 1.12 ERA) vs. DC So. RHP Danny Mooney (1-0, 3.38 ERA)
It certainly was not a pretty game, but it was good enough for Appalachian to win its eleventh straight game and sweep Davidson on a sunsplashed day on the mountain. The Appalachian pitching staff was subpar across the board, which may have been magnified because the Mountaineer bats were not as lively as they have been in past games. Rob Marcello (2-0, 1.19) pitched 6.2 innings but was erratic, walking five batters. David Port struck out the only batter he faced in the seventh inning. Mountaineer closer Nathan Hyatt, who entered the game without giving up a run all season, surrendered three runs in his one inning of work to set up extra innings. Only thirteen of Hyatt’s thirty pitches were strikes. Tyler Moore (2-0, 0.75) was credited the win in two innings of relief.
At the plate, the Mountaineers were led by Michael Pierson, who pinch ran for Daniel Kassouf in the eight inning. Pierson scored in the eighth off of a Andrew Leach fielder’s choice. In the ninth, a Pierson single went to waste, but it was all the confidence he needed in the tenth inning. With two outs and the bases loaded, Pierson’s speed on a swinging bunt to the Davidson shortstop was too tough to handle and gave the Mountaineers the walk off win. It was the fifteenth game in a row where the Mountaineers have allowed four runs or less.
SoCon Standings
Appalachian 3-0
Elon 5-1
Charleston 4-2
Western Carolina 2-1
Samford 2-1
In addition to the other strong defensive stats, App has not allowed more than 4 runs in any game this year. Their scoring differential is +5.4. After this win the Apps have an RPI of 21, and an SOS of 86. The main reason App is not ranked in the top 50 is due to the weakness of the teams we have played so far. Once we get to Elon we should see those numbers get better.