SUN BELT
ARKANSAS STATE 9-2, APPALACHIAN STATE 7-9
BOONE, N.C. -- Ty White's two-run single and Joe Schrimpf's RBI single completed a three-run sixth inning as Arkansas State rallied for a victory in the first game of a Friday doubleheader at Beaver Field.
Schrimpf, last week's Sun Belt player of the week, also homered in the first inning to help the Red Wolves to a 3-0 lead as they extended their season-long winning streak to six games. Tanner Ring also hit a home run in the inning, and after Tony Ortiz's RBI double in the second, ASU led 4-0.
But Appalachian State scored six runs in the bottom of the second off ASU starter Cody Jackson, highlighted by Matt Vernon's three-run home run. Tyler Zuber pitched the rest of the game, holding the Mountaineers to 1 run on 9 hits and striking out 7 in 71/3 innings for his fourth victory.
After White and Schrimpf gave ASU a 7-6 lead, Jake Bakamus' RBI single and Daltan Lovell's RBI double made it 9-6 in the seventh.
ASU (20-22, 9-14 Sun Belt) led 1-0 after an inning and a half in the second game, but Appalachian State tied the game in the bottom of the second, then took control with four runs in the fourth to split the doubleheader.
Jeremy Brown hit a sacrifice fly in the second, scoring Ring for the 1-0 lead in the second. Tanner Mann-Fix hit a one-out triple for Appalachian State (12-31, 7-16) in the bottom of the inning, then scored when Chandler Seagle reached on an error by Ring.
Mann-Fix hit the first of two Mountaineers home runs in the fourth inning to give Appalachian State the lead for good. Seagle walked, then Caleb McCann reached on a fielder's choice. Tyler Stroup singled to put runners on first and second with two outs, then Matt Vernon followed with a three-run home run to left-center field.
Vernon was 3 for 5 with 4 RBI to lead Appalachian State, while Stroup and Conner Leonard were both 2 for 5. Ring was 2 for 4 to lead ASU, which managed 7 hits, stranded 7 base runners and had 4 errors.
SOUTHLAND
CENTRAL ARKANSAS 4, NEW ORLEANS 3 (11)
NEW ORLEANS -- Hunter Strong scored on a wild pitch in the top of the 11th inning to give Central Arkansas (16-22, 8-11 Southland) a series-opening victory over New Orleans (25-16, 9-10) at Maestri Field.
Strong tripled to center field on an 0-1 pitch with one out in the 11th. Ty Tice struck out looking for the second out, but Strong scored on Tyler Langley's at-bat, a fly-out to center.
The Privateers took a 3-0 lead with two runs in the second inning and one in the third. Preston Marsh and Jay Robinson hit RBI singles to give New Orleans a 2-0 lead in the second and Hezekiah Randolph hit a home run in the third.
UCA responded to tie the game in the top of the fourth. Logan Preston singled to start the inning, then advanced to second base on a wild pitch. Matt Anderson doubled to left field, scoring Preston to cut the lead to 3-1.
Anderson advanced to third on the inning's second wild pitch and scored on Strong's one-out double down the right field line. Tice singled to right field, moving Strong to third. Strong would score on Tyler Langley's sacrifice fly to tie the game at 3-3.
Strong and Brooks Balisterri were both 3 for 5 to lead the Bears. Marsh, Dakota Dean and Samuel Capielano were all 2 for 5 for the Privateers. Cody Davenport (4-2) got the victory after giving up 8 hits with 4 strikeouts in 81/3 innings. Daniel Martinez took the loss after allowing the winning run in the 11th inning.
-- Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Sports on 04/30/2016