JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (May 13, 2014) – In a game that started with a 90-minute weather delay, it ended with Appalachian State pouring it on ETSU baseball, as the Mountaineers scored four two-out runs in the top of the 10th to rally past the Buccaneers, 9-5, on early Wednesday morning at Thomas Stadium.
Despite leading 5-3 after five innings of play, the Buccaneer offense was held scoreless in the final five innings, while Mountaineers plated six unanswered runs to sweep the season series.
The Blue and Gold got on the board early whenClinton Freeman (Jonesborough, Tenn.) belted a two-run home run to right field in the bottom of the first, but after Tyler Roach (Knoxville, Tenn.) andKevin Phillips (St. Louis, Mo.) drove in the three Buccaneer runs in the fifth, Appalachian State pitchers retired 15 of the final 17 ETSU hitters to end the ballgame.
After scoring single runs in the sixth and seventh to pull even at five, the Mountaineers registered five consecutive two-out hits, resulting in the four-run 10th inning. Jaylin Davis began the hit parade with a single, while the next four Appalachian State hitters recorded extra base-hits to cap off the comeback. Brian Bauk provided the eventual game-winning hit as his double to right-center brought in Davis, while Josh Zumbrook, Tyler Zupcic and Bradley Morton drove in insurance runs.
In the end, two-out hitting proved to be costly for the Bucs as 11 of the 17 Mountaineer hits came in those situations, compared to ETSU going 4-for-13.
The Bucs finished with nine hits on the night as Roach led the team with three hits, while Chris Cook (Kingsport, Tenn.) posted two hits and Jordan Sanford (Powell, Tenn.) reached base three times. Roach scored and drove in a run, and Sanford and Freeman both scored twice. Phillips had a two-RBI single in the fifth inning.
Freeman took the loss (2-6) as he allowed the four runs in the 10th, while Robert Whaley tossed three innings of no-hit ball to earn the win (2-1) out of the bullpen. Despite allowing four runs in four innings of work, freshman right-handerAustin Hutchison (Jefferson County, Tenn.) struck out seven and walked none. Overall, ETSU pitchers struck out 12 and walked only one.
The Bucs, who had won four straight at Thomas Stadium, had also won their last 10 extra-inning games, but ETSU dipped to 24-27 after suffering its first loss in extras since April 14, 2012 (vs. USC Upstate). Meanwhile, Appalachian State, who had lost seven of its last eight, improved to 18-31.
The Blue and Gold wrap up regular season play with a three-game conference set against Mercer, beginning Thursday night at 7:05 p.m. at Thomas Stadium.
