Box Score David Towarnicky singled in the game-winning run in the 11th inning to give Appalachian State a 4-3 victory over High Point Wednesday night at Smith Stadium.
High Point got out of the gates early putting a run on the board in the first inning. Alfie Wheeler got it started with a one-out single through the right side to extend his hitting streak to seven games. Jeff Cowan followed up with another single through the right side to put runners at first and second. Bill Manion executed a perfect hit-and-run hitting the ball to the opposite field plating Wheeler. The Mountaineers escaped further damage as the next two hitters were retired.
Appalachian State scored the game's next two runs in the fourth and fifth innings. Isaac Harrow hit his team tying-sixth homerun of the season in the fourth inning to knot the game at one apiece. An inning later, a double and single to start off put runners at first and third. Jerod Faggart hit a sacrifice fly scoring Jason Wallace giving the Mountaineers a 2-1 lead.
The Panthers quickly responded the next half inning, led off by a Max Fulginiti double off the centerfield wall. Billy Alvino laid down a sacrifice bunt advancing Fulginiti to third. Eric Marion laced a single up the middle narrowly missing the pitcher bringing in Fulginiti. Spencer Atwood singled to left field, putting runners on first and second. After a fielder's choice forced out Atwood at second, runners again were on the corners. Wheeler smacked a 3-1 pitch to left-centerfield giving the visitors the lead once again, 3-2.
In the bottom of the seventh, Faggart reached with one out on a fielding error. Jeremy Berg came in relief of start Brian Jones and struck out leadoff hitter Rand Smith. Wes Hobson hit a ball down the leftfield line, just landing fair for a double. Pinch-runner Jack Myers scored on the pitch from first base.
Both teams threatened in the ninth inning but nothing across. The Panthers half began with Cowan being hit by a pitch, the 40th time of his career, which puts him nine behind the HPU career record held by Alvino. Manion followed it up with a single that bounced out of the glove of the Appalachian State leftfielder who slid in an attempt to make the catch. After a failed bunt attempt and a strike out, Alvino was robbed on a great diving catch by the Mountaineer rightfielder.
ASU got a leadoff single and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt. A walk and an error loaded the bases with just one out in the inning. Berg struck out Towarnicky looking and got Chris Alessandria to lineout ending the inning.
After the Panthers went down in order in the 11th, the Mountaineers began their half inning with a single by Jeremy Dowdy. He was forced out at second base on a failed sacrifice bunt by Smith. He would advance to second on a wild pitch before a walk to Harrow had runners at second and first. Towarnicky proceeded with the game-winner.
Three different players picked up multiple hits for HPU led by Wheeler's three hit performance while Manion and Alvino both had a pair of hits. Alvino now has 12 multi-hit games this season. Kyle Mahoney extended his career high hitting streak to 15 games and Fulginiti's streak goes up to 13 games. Zach Scott suffered the loss falling to 1-3 although this is the first earned run he has given up this season in 14 innings of work. Jones worked a career high 6.1 innings surrendering three runs (two earned) on eight hits. He struck out four hitters while not allowing a free pass. Berg worked 2.2 innings of scoreless relief including getting out of the basesloaded jam in the ninth.
Nick DeRose paced the ASU offense with three hits and three other Mountaineers picked up two hits each. Taylor Miller picked up the win, upping his mark to 1-2 on the season. He worked two perfect innings of shutout ball and registered two strikeouts.
High Point returns to conference play on Friday, April 3rd when it hosts new Big South member Presbyterian in a three game set. First pitch is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. at Coy O. Williard Sr. Stadium.
