By Matt Present for App State Sports. BOONE, N.C. – After trailing by as much as eight runs in the middle innings, App State put the winning run on base in the ninth, but ultimately was unable to deliver the final blow, as the Mountaineers fell to Campbell, 16-15, March 10, at Smith Stadium.
Trailing by five runs heading to the bottom of the ninth inning, App State sent nine men to the plate in the frame, plating four runs. The scoring was highlighted RBI singles from Hayden Cross and Austin St. Laurent, with Dylan Rogers coming through with a two-run single to pull App State to within a run. After a walk to Hunter Wilder put the winning run on base, Alex Reed worked the count full before swinging and missing at the payoff pitch to end the ballgame.
The Mountaineers (8-4) and 24th ranked Camels (11-2) combined for 36 hits and eight home runs on the day.
App State held a pair of early leads, going ahead 2-0 in the first inning, and 4-2 in the third inning, before tying the ballgame at five runs apiece in the fifth.
Campbell batted around in the sixth inning, scoring six runs, on a pair of two-run home runs to go in front, 11-5.
Trailing 13-5 in the seventh inning, the Mountaineers scored three runs to begin their comeback, on a three-run home run from Rogers, his third of the season.
After Campbell answered with two runs in the eighth, the Mountaineers responded with a three-run eighth, highlighted by a Golston Gillespie two-run home run, his second home run of the year, over the wall in right field to make it 15-11.
St. Laurent led the offense with a career-high five hits and five RBIs, including a third inning homer which made it 4-2 App State. Luke Drumheller also enjoyed a four-hit game for App State, while Cross and Rogers also tallied three hits apiece.
Jake Beaty turned in a scoreless ninth for the Mountaineers out of the bullpen, and has not allowed an earned run through the first five outings of his career.
Game two of the series is set for Saturday at 3 p.m. and will be broadcast on ESPN+.
