Jerod Faggart and the Mountaineers host UNCA on Tuesday and travel to No. 5 UNC on Wednesday (photo courtesy of Marc DeRose) Baseball, UNC ASHEVILLE, April 1: Game statistics Baseball, at North Carolina, April 2: Game statistics

Baseball to Host UNCA, Travel to No. 5 North Carolina
by Appalachian Sports Information

March 31, 2008 - Appalachian State University baseball prepares for this weekend’s series versus four-time-defending Southern Conference champion College of Charleston by playing host to UNC Asheville on Tuesday and visiting No. 5 North Carolina on Wednesday. Tuesday’s game at ASU’s Beaver Field at Jim and Bettie Smith Stadium is set for 5 p.m. while Wednesday’s showdown at the USA Baseball National Training Complex in Cary, N.C. is slated for 6 p.m.

Appalachian (14-13) has been ultra-successful in mid-week games this season, posting a sterling 7-1 record in contests played on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. A large part of the reason for ASU’s mid-week success has been its ability to feast on end-of-the-rotation pitching, as it is hitting .348 and averaging 11.5 runs per game in weekday games (.050 higher and 4.9 runs per game more than its weekend averages).

David Rubinstein and Jason Rook have led the Mountaineers’ offensive attack as of late. Rubinstein has hit safely in 11-straight games, just one shy of the longest hitting streak by a Mountaineer this season, while Rook has collected a hit in eight-consecutive contests, including three three-hit efforts in five games last week.

Appalachian swept last season’s series versus UNC Asheville (12-17) with an 8-7 win in Asheville and 12-11 and 10-2 triumphs at Smith Stadium. ASU has won four-straight over UNCA and holds a 30-19 advantage in the all-time series between the two schools.

On Wednesday, ASU gets a crack at yet another marquee win over a power-conference opponent when it visits No. 5 North Carolina. UNC is playing its 2008 home games at the National Training Complex in nearby Cary due to ongoing renovations at its on-campus home, Boshamer Stadium. The Tar Heels sport a sterling 21-5 record on the season, but have dropped a pair of mid-week home games this season to Old Dominion (8-6 on Feb. 26) and Coastal Carolina (11-4 on March 11).

The Mountaineers have already collected three wins over Atlantic Coast Conference competition this season (one at NC State and two over Wake Forest) and also boast a road victory at Southeastern Conference-power Auburn. However, they have dropped six-consecutive decisions to the Tar Heels, dating back to an 11-10 win in Chapel Hill in 1997.

Both games can be heard on the Appalachian ISP Sports Network. Fans can tune in locally on WATA 1450 AM in Boone or worldwide by clicking on the Live Audio button above. Coverage begins 20 minutes prior to first pitch.

Following the mid-week tilts, Appalachian hosts Charleston (18-9, 5-1 SoCon) for a three-game weekend series at Smith Stadium. Game times are set for 7 p.m. Friday, 3 p.m. Saturday and 1 p.m. Sunday.

APPALACHIAN (14-13) vs. UNC ASHEVILLE (12-17)
Tuesday, April 1 • 5 p.m. • Smith Stadium (Boone, N.C.)
ASU Jr. RHP Zach Quate (1-0, 6.50 ERA) vs. UNCA RHP TBA

APPALACHIAN vs. NO. 5 NORTH CAROLINA (21-5)
Wednesday, April 2 • 6 p.m. • USA Baseball National Training Complex (Cary, N.C.)
ASU TBA vs. UNC Fr. RHP Patrick Johnson (2-0, 2.50 ERA)