Box Score Box Score

Junior Mike Caldwell pitched five scoreless innings of relief but HPU couldn't overcome an early deficit, falling to Appalachian State Tuesday 7-2 at Williard Stadium. Freshman Zach Haile gave up four runs in 3-1/3 innings to fall to 2-2 on the season. Junior Nate Roberts hit his 11th home run of the season in the loss.

“We simply got outpitched tonight,” said head coach Craig Cozart. “Ryan Arrowood was tremendous for them and kept us from putting together a big, offensive inning. The positive tonight is Mike Caldwell. He threw tremendously in relief and we will need him down the stretch.”

Arrowood gave up two runs on five hits with four strikeouts in seven innings of work to improve to 4-2 on the season for ASU. Caldwell gave up four hits with two strikeouts in his longest relief appearance of the season.

“First I'd like to give glory to the Lord for giving me the opportunity to come out and play today,” Caldwell said. “Even though we fell short tonight I really just tried to give us a chance to stay in the game. The good thing about baseball is we can come out and play again tomorrow. I have been working with coach about dropping down on some pitches and keeping the hitter off balance by coming at them from different angles. Tonight is really the first time I have been able to do it successfully for extended innings.”

After starter Zach Haile made quick work of the first two Appalachian State batters of the game Wes Hobson singled to right field and Jerod Faggart made it a 2-0 game with a home run to left field. Haile got the third out when Jeremy Dowdy hit a fly ball to right field.

Roberts answered in the bottom of the first with a two-out home run of his own. He took the 3-2 pitch from Ryan Arrowood to the opposite field to make it a 2-1 ASU lead.

Haile's night lasted just 3-1/3 innings, allowing four runs on five hits including the first inning home run. He gave up two runs with just one out in the inning before he was replaced by Spencer Andrews. Andrew inherited a bases loaded situation and stranded them all. Doug Jones struck out swinging and Ryan Stetson grounded to shortstop.

The Panthers picked up one run in the bottom of the fourth. Matt Gantner singled through the right side and came around to score on Max Fulginiti's 18th double of the season. Gantner and Fulginiti each have 18 doubles on the season, tied with John Cavanaugh and Billy Alvino for the fifth-best single season mark in HPU history. The record for doubles in a season is 21 set by Gerald Culler in 1979.

The Mountaineers extended their lead to 7-2 in the fifth inning, scoring three runs on only one hit thanks to a walk and two hit batters by Andrews. Caldwell came in to replace Andrews, shutting down ASU for the final five innings.

HPU has now lost five in a row, falling to 17-17 (4-8 Big South Conference). The Panthers will travel to Boone, N.C. tomorrow for the final game of the home-and-home series with the Mountaineers (23-7-1, 7-7-1 SoCon). First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m.