Jason Altenhof hit his second homerun of the season in the fourth inning (photo courtesy of Marc DeRose) Game statistics

Baseball Pummels The Citadel For First Conference Win
by Appalachian Sports Information

March 29, 2008 - CHARLESTON, S.C. - All nine batters scored a run for the Mountaineers as the team combined for 17 hits, including three each by Jason Rook and Rand Smith, en route to a 14-6 win over The Citadel at Riley Park on Saturday.

The Citadel's Wes Wrenn struck out the first two ASU batters of the game before David Rubenstein worked an 0-2 count into a walk and each of the next three hitters singled to give the Mountaineers a 3-0 cushion before taking the field in the bottom of the first. Rubenstein was 1-for-3 with a pair of RBI in the game.

The Bulldogs (15-10, 4-4 SoCon) responded with one run in the bottom of the first and scored another pair in the second inning to tie the game at 3.

Appalachian (14-12, 1-4) then regained the lead in the fourth inning as Andrew Franco hit a one-out double and Smith followed with a single before Jason Altenhof cranked his second homerun of the season, a towering shot to right field, for a 6-3 lead. Franco and Altenhoff were each 2-for-5 for the day.

Following another single run for the Bulldogs in the fourth inning, Appalachian again increased the lead in the fifth, as Wes Hobson drew a leadoff walk and was followed by a single up the middle from Jerod Faggart before Franco and Smith each came through with RBI singles to pad the Mountaineer advantage at 8-4. Hobson and Faggart each collected a pair of hits in the game as well.

Appalachian recorded at least one hit in each of the first five innings before the side was retired in order in the top of the sixth. Faggart led off the seventh with a walk before stealing second and moving up on a wild pitch. He came home for the ninth run of the game on a long sacrifice fly to right field by David Towarnicky.

The Apps added a pair of runs in the eighth and three more in the ninth while the Bulldogs were held scoreless for the final inning and two-thirds.

Matt Andress made the start for the Mountaineers and threw 6.1 innings. He allowed seven hits and five earned runs, but allowed just one hit between the third and sixth innings. The sophomore walked three and struck out six batters to earn the win and move to 4-1 on the season.

Nick Terry allowed one hit in a third of an inning before Adam Mills took over to close out the seventh inning. Mills stayed in to close out the game and allowed just one hit over 2.1 innings. He struck out two batters and did not allow a walk to earn his second save of the season.

The teams meet up again on Sunday at 1 p.m. for the rubber match of the series.