David Rubinstein became ASU's all-time doubles leader with three two-baggers in Sunday's finale versus C of C (photo courtesy of Marc DeRose) Baseball, COLLEGE OF CHARLESTON*, April 5: Game statistics Baseball, COLLEGE OF CHARLESTON*, April 6: Game statistics

Baseball Drops a Pair to Charleston
by Appalachian Sports Information

April 6, 2008 - BOONE, N.C. – Appalachian State University baseball dropped a pair of decisions to visiting College of Charleston on Sunday afternoon at Beaver Field at Jim and Bettie Smith Stadium. Appalachian fell in the conclusion of Saturday’s suspended game, 8-2, and lost the Southern Conference series finale, 7-6, in 10 innings.

Saturday’s game was picked up with College of Charleston leading 8-2 in the bottom of the eighth, but Appalachian sporting runners on second and third with just one out. ASU loaded the bases in the eighth but couldn’t push a run across, then went in order in the ninth to fall in the second game of the weekend set.

The Mountaineers trailed 6-3 after five innings in Sunday’s finale, but Garrett Sherrill kept the Apps in the game with four innings of scoreless, one-hit relief. Facing perhaps the nation’s most potent offensive attack, the right-handed junior struck out seven of the first eight batters he faced to send the Mountaineers into the bottom of the ninth still facing just a three-run deficit.

Appalachian started its rally in the ninth when David Towarnicky was hit with an 0-2 pitch from Charleston closer Jesse Simpson. Following a groundout, pinch hitters Jerod Faggart and Brett Stewart loaded the bases with a walk and single, respectively. ASU closed the deficit to 6-4 when all three runners moved up a base on a wild pitch.

One pitch later, senior shortstop Jason Altenhof knotted the scored at 6-6 with a two-run single up the middle. With Altenhof representing the winning run at second base, ASU’s Jason Rook appeared to beat out an infield single that would have put Altenhof on third base with only one out. However, it was ruled that the throw beat Rook to the bag, giving Charleston the second out of the inning.

The controversial call stung even more when, after the Cougars walked David Rubinstein intentionally, Isaac Harrow lofted a fly ball to right field that would have easily brought Altenhof home from third had there been less than two outs. Instead, the inning ended with the winning run stranded at third base.

C of C pinch hitter Joey Bergman led off the tenth with a home run to center field and the Mountaineers went down in order in the bottom of the stanza to suffer the heart-breaking loss.

Rubinstein led the Apps’ 11-hit attack with three doubles, including one that drove in two runs in the bottom of the first. The three doubles give the junior 54 for his career, breaking the school record of 53 set by Wes Timmons from 1999-2001. Altenhof and Rook also had two hits apiece for the Mountaineers, but the bottom six hitters in ASU’s starting lineup combined to go just 3-for-23 in the ballgame.

Sherrill fell to 0-2 despite allowing just three hits and striking out a season-high seven in five innings out of the bullpen. Simpson moved to 5-2 despite surrendering the three runs that tied the game in the ninth. Mike Hentz, Clay McCord and Gabe Marchant hit back-to-back-to-back homers in the third inning to lead the Cougars offensively.

With the series sweep at the hands of first-place College of Charleston (22-9, 8-1), Appalachian fell to 15-17 overall and 1-8 in SoCon play.

ASU returns to action on Tuesday with a 6 p.m. contest at USC Upstate and returns to Smith Stadium on Wednesday to face Gardner-Webb at 6 p.m (please note time change).