Adam Mills turned in 3.2 innings of scoreless relief to earn the win in the first game of Saturday's doubleheader versus Canisius (photo courtesy of Marc DeRose) Baseball, CANISIUS (Game One), March 1: Game statistics Baseball, CANISIUS (Game Two), March 1: Game statistics

Baseball Splits Twinbill with Canisius
by Appalachian Sports Information

March 1, 2008 - KANNAPOLIS, N.C. – Appalachian State University baseball and Canisius each registered come-from-behind victories in a doubleheader split on Saturday afternoon at Fieldcrest Cannon Stadium. Isaac Harrow’s walk-off two-run single gave Appalachian a 7-6 victory in game one and Canisius erased a 5-0 ASU lead to take the nightcap, 11-5.

Appalachian trailed by scores of 4-0 and 5-1 in the opener before erupting for four runs in the third inning to knot the contest at 5-5. David Rubinstein’s home run to right field, his first of the season, and run-scoring hits by Jerod Faggart and Wes Hobson accounted for the four-run stanza.

Canisius scored a single run in the top of the fourth to regain a 6-5 lead, but ASU right-hander Adam Mills came out of the bullpen to blank the Golden Griffins the rest of the way.

Despite Mills’ performance on the mound, the Mountaineers still trailed 6-5 heading into the bottom of the seventh and final inning. However, Rubinstein led off the frame with a walk and Jason Rook followed with a pinch-hit single through the right side of the infield on a 1-2 pitch. Rubinstein advanced to third on Rook’s base hit and Rook took second on the throw. Harrow then drilled a 1-2 pitch back up the middle to bring home Rubinstein and Rook with the winning runs.

Mills allowed just two hits and struck out two in his 3.2 innings of relief to earn his first victory of the young season. Canisius’ Ryan McGorman held the Apps hitless over 3.1 innings of work before allowing the back-to-back hits in the seventh to suffer the loss.

Appalachian needed just one hit to plate five runs in the first inning of game two. ASU drew three walks and had two batters hit by pitches in the stanza but the big blow came on a bases-loaded triple to right center field by Hobson.

After the Mountaineers took the early 5-0 lead, the contest settled into a pitchers’ duel between Rook and Canisius reliever Matt Weber. Rook cruised through four innings before running into trouble in the fifth and giving way to the bullpen after allowing two runs. In all, Rook surrendered just five hits and the two fifth-inning runs while striking out a career-high nine.

Unfortunately, the ASU bullpen could not hold the lead, as two relievers combined to allow seven runs on just three hits in the sixth, walking four and hitting two more to turn the 5-2 lead into a 9-5 deficit. The Golden Griffins tacked on a pair of unearned runs in the seventh to account for the final margin.

Weber was spectacular in relief of Canisius starter Josh Sawatsky, who didn’t return to the mound after the five-run ASU first inning. Weber allowed just two hits over the game’s final six innings and struck out four to earn the win.

ASU’s Garrett Sherrill was saddled with his first loss of the year after surrendering four runs on three hits, two walks and a hit batter in just two-thirds of an inning.

With the split, Appalachian moved to 4-4 on the season and Canisius went to 6-1.

The Mountaineers will try to salvage a series split when the two teams conclude their four-game weekend set on Sunday at 1 p.m. at Fieldcrest Cannon Stadium.