MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. – App State junior Calbert Guest’s first-place finish in the men’s 3,000-meter steeplechase highlighted the second day of action at the Sun Belt Outdoor Championships in Myrtle Beach, S.C. on Friday. Through two days of competition, the Mountaineers have tallied six top-five finishes. With eight of 21 events scored, the men stand fourth in the team standings with 40 points and the women are tied for 11th.
In the men’s 3,000-meter steeplechase, Guest led the pack, stopping the clock at 8:54.06 for a new personal best and the SBC title. He remains fourth in the App State all-time list for the event and closes out the night ranked 35th in the NCAA East Prelim qualifying list. Senior Jonah Morris finished sixth (9:21.18) and graduate student Jonah Bird finished eighth (9:32.95). Senior Claire Mason rounded out the top-10 in the women’s 3,000-meter steeplechase with a time of 11:39.71.
Junior Braden Underwood recorded a personal best clearance of 4.91m (16′ 1.25″) to place fourth in the men’s pole vault. Underwood’s clearance ties him with fellow junior Matthew Bigelow at eighth in the App State all-time list. Bigelow finished seventh overall with a clearance of 4.76m (15′ 7.25″).
In the men’s shot put, juniors Chris Wainscott and Nathan Karl placed fifth (17.48m (57′ 4.25″)) and seventh (17.01m (55′ 9.75″)), respectively. Junior Siby Yao and senior Taylor Smith finished seventh (5.77m (18′ 11.25″)) and ninth (5.73m (18′ 9.75″)), respectively, in the women’s long jump.
Senior Mariah Atwater advanced to Saturday’s women’s 400-meter final after finishing second in the prelim with a time of 55.15. Freshman Harrison Robinson advanced to the Saturday final of the men’s 110-meter hurdles after clocking a time of 14.45 to finish seventh in the prelim.
Day 1 Review
In the men’s 10,000 meters, senior Oliver Wilson-Cook and sophomore Chase Burrell finished fourth (30:33.92) and fifth (31:19.92), respectively. Wainscott registered a fifth-place finish in the men’s hammer throw with a toss of 57.65m (189′ 1″).
Seven Mountaineers advanced to Saturday’s finals in the men’s and women’s 1,500 meters, men’s 400-meter hurdles, and women’s 200 meters. Junior Jasmine Donohue stopped the clock at 4:33.41 to finish third in the women’s 1,500-meter prelim, while Atwater and Smith took fifth (24.12, PR) and eighth (24.25, PR), respectively, in the women’s 200-meter prelims.
Freshman Christian Gore placed eighth in the men’s 400-meter hurdle prelim, stopping the clock at 53.65. Morris and juniors Rylan Haskett and Dwayne Lillie took eighth (4:01.12), ninth (4:01.22), and 11th (4:02.18), respectively, in the men’s 1,500-meter prelim.
Up Next
The Sun Belt Outdoor Track & Field Championships will wrap up on Saturday. The meet will resume at noon and the ESPN+ stream will start at 4 p.m.
BOONE, N.C. – App State overcame a big Arkansas State rally and an hour-and-a-half rain delay, plating the go-ahead run in the bottom of the seventh inning, to win the series opener 7-6 in a contest that stretched into the early hours of Saturday morning at Smith Stadium.
Five innings into the ballgame the Mountaineers (24-21, 13-11) were in the driver’s seat. App State led 4-0 behind a pair of solo home runs from CJ Boyd, and another dominant strikeout performance from Xander Hamilton, who allowed just five baserunners in his first five innings while striking out eight.
The two-homer game was the first of Boyd’s career, and tenth of the season, becoming the first Mountaineer since Wes Hobson in 2010 to record double-digit home runs and steals in the same season.
In a ballgame that saw the first pitch pushed back two hours due to weather, the rain in the High Country vacillated between a drizzle and a downpour, even after the ballgame got underway.
In the sixth inning, after Hamilton picked up his ninth strikeout of the ballgame, the rain intensified, as did the Red Wolves rally. Five consecutive batters reached against Hamilton, highlighted by a two-run double from Brayden Caskey, and with the bases loaded for Arkansas State, following a walk, the umpires waved the players off the field.
Just before 11:30 p.m. play resumed, with the Red Wolves carrying the momentum across the delay, as with two outs, Will French cleared the bases with a triple to deep left field to give the visitors their first lead of the ballgame at 5-4.
Arkansas State would increase that advantage to 6-4 an inning later on a misplayed ball in right field, but Collin Welch minimized the damage by retiring the next three hitters, including a pair of strikeouts.
In the bottom of the seventh, the Mountaineers punched back. Xavier Moronta reached on an infield single, and Luke Drumheller followed with an RBI double to left-center to make it 6-5. Moronta reached base four times in the ballgame and extended his hitting streak to 11 straight games.
With one out in the inning, the Mountaineers continued to chip away. Golston Gillespie walked to put runners at first and second and Dylan Rogers followed with a ground ball to the hole at shortstop that was thrown away at third base allowing Drumheller to score the tying run. One batter later, Alex Reed doubled to left to put App State back in front, 7-6.
Welch (win, 2-2) backed the offense up with a scoreless eighth inning, helped by a relay throw from Alex Aguila to cut down a run at the plate on a double to left-center.
Jackson Steensma (save, 6) worked around a leadoff double and a walk in the ninth inning, getting a double-play and a strikeout to seal the victory.
The middle game of the series is set for 3 p.m. on Saturday, with Senior Day festivities beginning at 2:40 p.m.
By Bobby Neal for App State Sports. NEW ORLEANS — App State softball junior Kayt Houston has been named second-team All-Sun Belt, the conference announced Tuesday.
The outfielder from Rock Hill, S.C. has garnered all-conference honors for the second consecutive season, receiving first-team honors in 2022, and becomes the second player in program history to be named to an all-Sun Belt squad in multiple years.
Houston finished the regular season with 64 hits, ranking fourth in the league and 37th in the nation. She also finished in the top-10 in the conference in batting average (.383), doubles (13) and on-base percentage (.464).
She found a new role in the leadoff spot during the 2023 season and led the Mountaineers with 38 runs, which was the 11th-most in the league. She scored at least two runs in 10 contests.
Houston also had seven games with at least three hits, including the series finale against James Madison on April 29, when she hit a game-tying grand slam in the sixth inning. She also had four hits, two of which were doubles, in a win over Belmont.
In App State’s first ranked win in program history against No. 23 Louisiana, Houston scored two of the Mountaineers’ five runs after tallying two walks and a hit.
This is the eighth time that a Mountaineer has earned all-conference honors since the softball program joined the Sun Belt in 2014.
2023 Sun Belt Softball Postseason Awards
Player of the Year: Karly Heath, Louisiana (SR, OF – Alvin, Texas)
Pitcher of the Year: Olivia Lackie, South Alabama (JR, P – Walker, La.)
Newcomer of the Year – Sydney Bickel, Marshall (JR, SS – Peoria, Ariz.)
Freshman of the Year: Mihyia Davis, Louisiana (FR, OF – Lovelady, Texas)
Coach of the Year: Becky Clark, South Alabama
First Team
Olivia Lackie, South Alabama (JR, P – Walker, La.)
Sydney Nester, Marshall (R-SR, P – Hillsville, Va.)
Hannah Shifflett, James Madison (GR, 1B – North Garden, Va.)
KK Mathis, James Madison (FR, 2B – West Chester, Ohio)
Sydney Bickel, Marshall (JR, SS – Peoria, Ariz.)
Meredith Keel, South Alabama (GS, 3B – Ashville, Ohio)
Autumn Owen, Marshall (JR, C – Mill Spring, N.C.)
Iyanla De Jesus, Coastal Carolina (SR, DP – Mill Creek, Wash.)
Karly Heath, Louisiana (SR, OF – Alvin, Texas)
Mihyia Davis, Louisiana (FR, OF – Lovelady, Texas)
Victoria Ortiz, South Alabama (R-SR, OF – Mobile, Ala.)
Jessica Mullins, Texas State (JR, P – Tarkington, Texas)
Lauren Allred, Louisiana (FR, 1B – Texarkana, Texas)
Alex Coleman, Marshall (SO, OF – Asheboro, N.C.)
Grace Chelemen, Marshall (5th, OF – Woodhaven, Mich.)
Second Team
Meghan Schorman, Louisiana (SR, P – Hazelwood, Mo.)
Jenna Hardy, South Alabama (SR, P – Whitehouse, Ohio)
Libby Baker, Troy (JR, 1B – Skipperville, Ala.)
Taylor McKinney, Troy (SO, 2B – Montgomery, Ala.)
Alexa Langeliers, Louisiana (SO, SS – Keller, Texas)
Sara Vanderford, Texas State (SR, 3B – Pasadena, Texas)
Sophie Piskos, Louisiana (JR, C – Paris, Tenn.)
Kelly Horne, Troy (SR, DP – Tallahassee, Fla.)
Emily Brown, Georgia State (SR, OF – Suwanee, Ga.)
Mackenzie Brasher, South Alabama (SR, OF – Orange Beach, Ala.)
Kayt Houston, App State (JR, OF – Rock Hill, S.C.)
Hannah Borden, Southern Miss (SR, C – Trussville, Ala.)
Sam Landry, Louisiana (SO, P – Mont Belvieu, Texas)
Emma Davis, Georgia Southern (FR, OF – Grayson, Ga.)
Leanna Johnson, Troy (SR, P – Brantley, Ala.)
Diamond Williams, Coastal Carolina (SR, OF – Evans, Ga.)
By Joey Jones for App State Sports. BOONE, N.C. – For the first time in program history, App State is headed to the women’s tennis postseason.
Head coach Ashleigh Antal and the Mountaineers have accepted an invitation to the inaugural Universal Tennis National Invitational Tennis Championship (NIT Championship), which will take place in Peachtree City, Georgia, May 17-20.
“We’re honored to have received a bid to the inaugural NIT for college tennis,” Antal said. “It’s a huge deal to be able to play postseason tennis and to be able to promote our sport in this way. This is a special group that has competed hard all year, so I’m incredibly excited to have the opportunity to get back out on the court with them one more time.”
App State will face Wyoming on the May 17 opening round for a standard dual match that will start no earlier than 10 a.m. All matches for both men and women will be streamed by Amazon Prime and available to regular Prime subscribers at no additional cost. Information on App State’s draw in the tournament will be announced this week.
Other teams in the women’s field are Cal Poly, Colorado, CSUN, Stetson, TCU, UC San Diego and Wyoming.
App State has a 13-8 record this spring after advancing to the quarterfinals of the Sun Belt tournament last week at the same Peachtree City Tennis Center location as the upcoming NIT. The Mountaineers finished in a tie for third place in the regular-season Sun Belt standings at 8-3 for their best league finish since 2019 and second-best since joining the Sun Belt in 2014.
Playing at the No. 2 singles slot for most of the season, freshman Savannah Dada-Mascoll earned first-team All-Sun Belt honors and has a team-best 13-3 record in dual matches. At the No. 1 spot is senior Helena Jansen, who has compiled a 10-8 mark against each of the Mountaineers’ opponents’ best player. Erika Dodridge (7-2), Virginia Poggi (10-3) and Olwyn Ryan-Bovey (5-4) also have winning singles records this season.
App State won the doubles points in both of its Sun Belt Tournament matches and will look to carry that momentum into the NIT as well.
Universal Tennis announced the tournament in March as proof of furthering support of college tennis by the organization, which generates millions in revenue for college programs each year and has streamed over 20,000 matches featuring more than 1,300 college players globally.
The announcement of the NIT Championship follows the launch of the Universal Tennis Collegiate Alliance (“UTCA”), which was created to support the future of all college programs in the United States. The UTCA Executive Committee voted unanimously to support the launch of the NIT Championship.
By Matt Present for App State Sports. CONWAY, S.C. – App State’s offense put up six runs in the first three innings, and Xander Hamilton was nearly untouchable on the mound for the Mountaineers, striking out a program-record 15 batters in eight scoreless, one-hit innings, en route to a 11-0 win May 5 over 8th-ranked Coastal Carolina at Spring Brooks Stadium.
The win for the Mountaineers (23-19, 12-9) was their first victory against a ranked opponent since taking down 24th-ranked Wake Forest in Winston-Salem in 2020, and it marked the highest ranked opponent that App State has beaten since it knocked off 8th-ranked NC State to begin the 2013 season.
Hamilton (win, 8-2) didn’t allow a hit until the fourth inning. The looping, leadoff single to center was the only hit he would allow on a night in which he broke his own single-game strikeout record, as he yielded just seven baserunners in eight scoreless innings. Hamilton upped his strikeout total to 94 on the season while setting the program’s single-season strikeout record.
The Raleigh, N.C., native was dominant the entire night. He rolled a double-play ball to erase a leadoff walk in the first inning, and he went on to strike out at least two batters in six of the next seven innings, fanning the side in the eighth. The Mountaineers are now 10-2 when Hamilton starts, including a 7-1 mark in Sun Belt play.
The offense wasted no time getting on the board in support of Hamilton. CJ Boyd led off the ballgame with a double to the gap in right-center, and after advancing to third on wild pitch, he came into score on a Xavier Moronta sacrifice fly.
App State plated three more runs in the second, ignited by Dylan Rogers’ leadoff single. With two outs, Andrew Terrell and Boyd hit back-to-back singles to push Rogers across the plate. Moronta then followed with a two-run double to center to make it 4-0. Rogers and Moronta both extended their hitting streaks to eight straight games.
The Mountaineers turned to the long ball to pad their lead in the third. Hayden Cross led off the frame with a towering home run to right field, his sixth of the season, to put the Black and Gold ahead 5-0. With two outs in the inning, Alex Reed cranked his second home run of the season to increase the advantage to 6-0.
Cross has now reached base safely in 31 consecutive games.
App State continued to add on runs through the middle innings. Cross led off with a single to right in the fifth and came in to score on a Reed RBI single two batters later. In the sixth, Boyd walked and Moronta was hit by a pitch, setting up Luke Drumheller for an RBI single through the left side to make it 9-0.
Golston Gillespie joined the fireworks in the eighth inning, launching a solo home run to right field to put the Mountaineers ahead 10-0. The redshirt senior has now hit 13 home runs this season, which moves him into a tie for fifth-most in a single campaign in program history.
The Mountaineers scored one more time on a throwing error in the top of the ninth.
After Hamilton took the mound for the bottom of the ninth and walked the leadoff batter, the Mountaineers turned to Seth Whitley, who recorded the final three outs to finish off the shutout.
The Mountaineers have now posted a one-hitter in back-to-back seasons after Eli Ellington and Caleb Cross combined to one-hit UT Arlington on May 14, 2022. The win is the 23rd victory of the season for the Mountaineers, their most in a season since winning 30 games in 2013.
App State will go for a series win on Saturday at 2 p.m. when it sends righty Bradley Wilson to the mound to face off with Coastal left-hander Liam Doyle. The game will be broadcast on ESPN+.
By David Rogers. BOONE, N.C. — After splitting the first two games of the weekend series by way of slugfests, Appalachian State and James Madison engaged in a see-saw battle in Game 3. Appropriately, the final contest went into extra innings with the Mountaineers winning in walk-off fashion, 9-7.
In the bottom half of the 10th inning, with the game tied at 7-7, Andrew Terrell ripped a two-out double to right centerfield, then C J Boyd launched a game-winning home run over the right field fence to produce the winning margin.
Bradley Wilson started the game on the mound for the Mountaineers on April 30. Photographic image by David Rogers
Now 21-19 overall, 11-9 in Sun Belt Conference play, the Mountaineers have 10 games remaining in the regular season — all opportunities to improve on their seeding in the SBC championship tournament yet to come.
App State scored four runs in the bottom half of the first inning to take the early lead, and added a run in each of the 3rd and 4th innings to counter JMU’s three runs in the top half of the third. But the Dukes kept nibbling until plating two runs in the top of the eighth to take their first lead.
But the lead wouldn’t stick after designated hitter Alex Reed clubbed a 1-out double down the right field line. He was replaced by pinch runner Grey LaSpaluto, then watched as Terrell looped a single near the right field line, scoring LaSpaluto to tie the game at 7-7 and set the final heroics.
Alex Reed (24) rips a double down the right field line in the bottom half the 8th inning. It was promptly followed by a Andrew Terrell’s single down the right field line to tie the score vs. JMU at 7-7. Photographic image by David Rogers
The Mountaineers play host to East Tennessee State on May 2 before traveling to Conway, S.C. for a 3-game conference series May 5-7 vs. Coastal Carolina, the current league leader at 28-14 overall, 15-6 in conference.
Key Individual Performances
APP C J Boyd: 1-5, 1 run scored, 2 RBIs, HR (7 on the season)
By Joey Jones and Bret Strelow for App State Sports. BOONE, N.C. — Six App State Football alums officially joined the NFL on Saturday, two as draft picks and four as free agent signees.
An eventful day began with the Los Angeles Rams selecting pass-rushing standout Nick Hampton in the fifth round with the 161st overall pick and continued with the Jacksonville Jaguars taking offensive lineman Cooper Hodges, who is from nearby Glen St. Mary, Fla., in the seventh round with the 226th overall selection.
In the hours immediately after the draft ended, four Mountaineers signed with NFL franchises: CB Steven Jones Jr. (Tennessee Titans), TE Henry Pearson (Green Bay Packers), RB Camerun Peoples (Carolina Panthers) and OL Anderson Hardy (Kansas City Chiefs). There are multiple published reports stating that quarterback Chase Brice will participate in rookie minicamps with the Atlanta Falcons and Washington Commanders.
App State led Sun Belt programs last season with 14 alums on NFL rosters, and eight of those players entered the NFL as undrafted free agents. Wide receiver Jalen Virgil (Denver Broncos) and defensive lineman Demetrius Taylor (Detroit Lions) made 53-man rosters in 2022 as undrafted rookies, and cornerback Shaun Jolly played for the Rams last season after being a rookie free agent.
In the last four years, App State and Louisiana are the only Sun Belt programs with at least one pick in each of the NFL drafts and more than one pick in two of those four years. Hampton and Hodges became the 32nd and 33rd different App State alums to be selected in the NFL Draft, dating back to 1942, and the Mountaineers have had 17 players picked in the last 16 drafts.
DRAFT CAPSULES
NICK HAMPTON, EDGE RUSHER
With 26.5 career sacks, including 7.0 in nine games during his final year at App State, ranked No. 5 among full-time FBS players who were active during the 2022 season … According to NCAA statistics and PFF College data, also finished his FBS career with 133 QB pressures, 175 tackles, 40 tackles for loss, six forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries … Began 2022 season with 2.5 sacks against North Carolina and ended opening month by adding two more against James Madison … Despite missing the final three games, in addition to his sack total, accumulated 39 tackles, 25 QB pressures, 9.5 tackles for loss, three forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries in 2022 … Reese’s Senior Bowl and NFL Scouting Combine participant … At the combine, had high-level measurements among edge rushers in the 40-yard dash (4.58), vertical jump (35.5), 10-yard split (1.65) and broad jump (10.0).
COOPER HODGES, OL
Ended 2022 regular season with starts in all 51 of his FBS game appearances … Became four-time All-Sun Belt selection as a right tackle and played guard in the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl … Overall blocking grade of 85.3 from PFF in 2022 ranked fifth overall among starting FBS offensive tackles and No. 1 among starting right tackles at the FBS level … Run-blocking grade of 86.2 was also fifth nationally among starting FBS offensive tackles and No. 1 among starting right tackles … The two-year captain allowed just one sack and two quarterback hits in 428 pass-blocking snaps during the 2022 season.
FREE AGENT CAPSULES
ANDERSON HARDY, OL
Played in 44 career games and made 29 career starts, including 28 in a row at left tackle to end his career … All-Sun Belt first team in 2022 … Hula Bowl participant … According to PFF, had the third-best overall blocking grade and fourth-best run-blocking grade among starting offensive tackles in the Sun Belt in 2022, when he started all 12 games … Allowed just two quarterback sacks in 2022 … Weighing 301 pounds, had time of 4.96 seconds in the 40-yard dash at App State’s Pro Day … Knocked out 30 reps on the 225-pound bench press … Vertical jump of 31-5 inches.
STEVEN JONES JR., CB
First-team All-American in 2021 from the Football Writers Association of America, Phil Steele and Pro Football Network, with a second-team honor from the Walter Camp Football Foundation … Played in the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl … 2022 second-team preseason All-American via the Walter Camp Football Foundation and PFN … Seven career interceptions included five during breakout season in 2021 … Totaled 34 passes defended in FBS career, including 28 over his final two seasons … Career totals included four INT returns for TDs, five total TDs (counting the end zone recovery of his own punt block) and 131 tackles. … In 2021, broke or tied school records for single-season INT return TDs, career INT return TDs, single-game INTs (five-way tie for first) and single-game INT return TDs (four-way tie for first) … Played in 64 career games and made 27 starts at cornerback … Two-time All-Sun Belt defender (first team in 2021, second team in 2022) … In 2022, tied for the Sun Belt lead in the regular season with 15 passes defended … Tied for 14th nationally in the regular season with 1.2 passes defended per game in 2022 … Had time of 4.47 seconds in the 40-yard dash at App State’s Pro Day … Vertical jump of 35-0 and broad jump of 10-4.
HENRY PEARSON, TE
Played in 59 career games and made 43 starts at tight end … All-Sun Belt second-team as a senior … Totaled 58 catches for 897 yards and 11 touchdowns in his career … Full-time starter in his final three years after starting eight games in 2019 and making three starts as a true freshman in 2018 … In 2022, led App State and tied for the Sun Belt lead among tight ends with five touchdown catches during the regular season … Second among league TEs in catches (25) and receiving yards (329) in the regular season … Among starting Sun Belt tight ends, had the second-best overall blocking grade, according to PFF … Scored a tiebreaking touchdown on 9-yard reception late in third quarter of 17-14 win at Texas A&M … Knocked out 30 reps on the 225-pound bench press at App State’s Pro Day — the high among tight ends at this year’s combine was 23.
CAMERUN PEOPLES, RB
In 36 career games (15 starts), totaled 2,830 rushing yards, 33 rushing TDs, nine 100-yard games and a school-record 6.22 yards-per-carry average … Capped a 1,124-yard rushing season in 2020 with 317 yards and five touchdowns in the Myrtle Beach Bowl — a performance that set NCAA’s single-game bowl record for rushing yards, broke the school record for single-game rushing yards, tied the NCAA bowl record for rushing TDs and tied the school record for rushing touchdowns … Mayo Clinic Comeback Player of the Year Award candidate in 2020 after scoring a 63-yard TD as a (redshirting) true freshman in 2018 bowl win but suffering a torn ACL in his right knee on a 17-yard run in the 2019 opener … Appeared in nine games and made six starts in 2022 … Rushed for 593 yards on 101 attempts (5.9 average) and five TDs … Had three 100-yard games, with 168 yards (with two TDs on 23 rushes) against Georgia State, 112 yards (on 19 attempts) at Texas A&M and 102 yards (with a 73-yard TD) on four carries against The Citadel … Had a 48-yard run on the final drive to help clinch the win at No. 6 Texas A&M … Helped tie UNC game with 38-yard touchdown run … Reese’s Senior Bowl and NFL Scouting Combine participant … At the combine, had measurements of 4.61 in the 40-yard dash, 37-0 in the vertical jump and 10-1 in the broad jump … His 19 reps on the bench press at App State’s Pro Day would have tied for fourth place among running backs at the combine.
By David Rogers. BOONE, N.C. — What started out as a promising performance on a beautiful baseball afternoon morphed into a late innings disaster on April 29. Visiting James Madison tallied 11 runs in the final three innings to secure an 18-9 win over the host Mountaineers of Appalachian State.
JMU shortstop Mason Dunaway and left fielder Trevon Dabney were each credited with four RBIs to lead the Dukes’ slugfest. Even with the wind blowing in for much of the game, the contest featured five home runs, including three by JMU, one each from Dunaway, centerfielder Jack Cone, and catcher Jason Schiavone. The Mountaineers got dingers from designated hitter Hayden Cross and third baseman Andrew Terrell.
App State’s Hayden Cross (35) powered another home run on April 29 in the Mountaineers’ 18-9 loss to James Madison. Photographic image by David Rogers
App State opened things up in the bottom half of the second inning with a 5-run burst, leveraging catcher Braxton Church’s single, Terrell’s double, a sacrifice fly from C J Boyd, and a single ripped through the left side by Cross.
James Madison countered with six runs in the Dukes’ half of the third and fourth innings to momentarily take the lead at 6-5, but App State came right back with three more runs in the bottom of the fourth inning to regain the advantage, 8-6, on a solo home run by Terrell and a 2-run shot by Cross.
JMU shortstop Mason Dunaway (7) here looks to bunt in the first inning against App State on April 29, but hit with power, too, going 3-5 with a HR, scoring 4 runs and had 4 RBIs. Photographic image by David Rogers
After the Dukes plated eight runs in the top half of the seventh inning, the Mountaineers just couldn’t keep up with the scoring barrage. JMU’s Schiavone and Dunaway added insult to injury in the top half of the ninth with a solo HR and a 2-run blast, resepctively.
Although James Madison’ C J Czerwinski only pitched two innings of relief in the middle innings, the timing was right as he picked up the win. Ryan Sleeper was the third relief pitcher in the seventh inning and was credited with the loss, opening his appearance with a wild pitch, two walks, a double and three runs scored before being replaced with Jake Beaty.
App State righthander Bradley Wilson started the April 29 game vs. JMU on the mound, going just 2.1 innings but issuing 5 walks. Photographic image by David Rogers
The Mountaineers used seven pitchers on the day, who collectively issued 12 walks vs. just one strikeout, along with four hit batters and three wild pitches.
JMU stranded 13 runners, App State left 7 runners on base.
App State will try to regain its composure and win the series on Sunday, with first pitch scheduled for 2 p.m.
By Katherine Jamtgaard for App State Sports. BOONE, N.C. — The App State track and field team closed competition at the App State Open, its first outdoor home meet since the 2018 season, on Saturday with 22 event wins. The Mountaineers totaled 71 top-five finishes on the weekend in their final regular season meet.
All photographic images by David Rogers for High Country Sports
In addition to Appalachian State and several unattached athletes competing, other schools represented included, VMI, Western Carolina, Bob Jones University, North Carolina Central, Livingstone, Lenoir-Rhyne, Higher Power AC, Milligan, Louisburg, RMPV, and Anderson (S.C.).
Photographic image by David Rogers
“The first meet brought out a lot of emotions, but I’m very excited for the athletes to experience something they’ve been waiting for,” said director of track & field/cross country Damion McLean. “Having alumni here to enjoy it with this team means a lot. This facility is state of the art, one of the best in the state, and definitely the best in the conference.”
The Mountaineers went 1-2-3 in the men’s pole vault, led by sophomore Matthew Bigelow, who posted a personal best clearance of 4.91m (16′ 1.25″). Bigelow’s clearance moves him to eighth in the App State all-time list. Freshman Ava Studney and senior Celia Agee took first (3.66m (12′ 0″)) and second (3.56m (11′ 8.25″)), respectively, in the women’s pole vault.
Photographic image by David Rogers
Junior Siby Yao led the Mountaineers in the women’s long jump, taking first with a leap of 5.99m (19′ 7.75″). Seniors Taylor Smith and Jada Branch followed, placing second (5.97m (19′ 7″)) and third (5.96m (19′ 6.75″)), respectively. Branch led the competition in the women’s triple jump with a leap of 13.35m (43′ 9.5″, +2.5 wind), while junior Niejel Wilkins clinched first in the men’s triple jump with a leap of 15.31m (50′ 2.75″). Wilkins moves to ninth in the program all-time list for the men’s triple jump.
Freshman Nadiyah Byard finished first in the women’s high jump with a personal best clearance of 1.67m (5′ 5.75″) and junior Yates Hall took second in the men’s high jump with a leap of 1.88m (6′ 2″).
Photographic image by David Rogers
In addition to a first-place finish in the men’s hammer throw on Friday, junior Chris Wainscott collected gold in the men’s discus with a toss of 50.23m (164′ 10″) and men’s shot put with a toss of 17.88m (58′ 8″). Fellow junior Nate Karl followed Wainscott placed second in the men’s discus (48.71m (159′ 10″) and men’s shot put (16.15m (52′ 11.75″)). Sophomore Daiyanna Cooper recorded a personal best toss of 13.61m (44′ 7.75″) for a first-place finish in the women’s shot put. Cooper’s toss places her ninth in the all-time list.
App State went 1-2-3-4 in the women’s 100 meters, with Taylor Smith leading the charge with a personal best of 11.71, which places her seventh in the program all-time list. The Black and Gold also took the top-three spots in the men’s 1,500 meters, led by freshman Tucker Sangster, who clocked a personal best time of 3:57.91, as well as the women’s 400 meters, led by graduate student Hunter Robinson, who clocked a time of 55.63. Hunter Robinson’s time places her seventh in the all-time list for the women’s 400 meters.
The Mountaineers took the top-five spots in the women’s 5,000 meters, led by sophomore Linnea Maynard, who clocked a time of 18:51.68. In his 3,000-meter steeplechase debut, freshman Lane Hoyes clocked a personal best of 9:46.03 to place first overall.
Photographic image by David Rogers
Freshman Christian Gore clocked a personal best time of 52.52 to finish first in the men’s 400-meter hurdles, which places him seventh in the App State all-time list. Sophomore Mariah McCord finished first in the women’s 200 meters with a personal best time of 24.43. In the men’s 110-meter hurdles, Harrison Robinson stopped the clock at 14.92 to place first.
The women’s 4×100-meter relay team composed of senior Jelonnie Smith, Hunter Robinson, Taylor Smith, and senior Mariah Atwater clinched first with a time of 45.21. Jelonnie Smith, Hunter Robinson, and Atwater were joined by Branch in the women’s 4×400-meter relay, where they clocked a time of 3:42.17 to finish first. In the men’s 4×400-meter relay, freshmen Jayvion Johnson and Harrison Robinson, junior Cole Krehnbrink, and freshman Christian Gore took first with a time of 3:19.70.
Friday Rewind
Friday’s action was highlighted by a ribbon cutting for the new Randy Marion Track & Field Facility. Past and present Mountaineers gathered in the Mark E. Ricks Athletics Complex with Chanellor Everts, Director of Athletics Doug Gillin, University dignitaries, the Marion Family, former head coach John Weaver, Director of Track & Field/Cross Country Damion McLean and the App State track & field coaching staff. Senior Jada Branch and Oliver Wilson-Cook had the honor of cutting the ribbon.
Sophomore Daiyanna Cooper posted a personal best and facility record of 56.86m (186′ 7″), placing first in the women’s hammer throw. She remains second in the App State all-time list. Arnold took second with a personal best of her own (45.78m (150′ 2″)). In the men’s hammer throw, Wainscott recorded a first-place finish with a toss of 56.36m (184′ 11″).
Photographic image by David Rogers
What They’re Saying About the Facility
“It’s a very great facility. It’s got a nice setup, it’s team friendly, and I can’t wait to be back here again.” – Zach Scott, Director of Track & Field/Cross Country, VMI
“It’s a beautiful, beautiful facility. I’m very happy for Coach McLean, he’s one of my friends, so I’m very happy and excited for him specifically to get this facility. There’s nothing like running in the mountains. The scenery is just beautiful.” – Justin Davis, Head Coach, Livingstone College
“I think it’s a beautiful facility. The track looks fast and it’s really nice. The setup is nice and they did a good job building the facility.” – Darnell Almanzar, Assistant Coach, North Carolina Central
“You can stand anywhere and see everything, which is really nice. Oftentimes track and field facilities spread out. Having the throws on the infield, as a throws coach, that’s fantastic and the bowl is nice and very spectator friendly.” – Daniel Haakenson, Assistant Coach, Western Carolina
Up Next
The Mountaineers will head to Myrtle Beach, S.C. for the Sun Belt Outdoor Championships on May 11-13. The meet will be available to stream on ESPN+.
By Matt Present for App State Sports. BOONE, N.C. – App State scored two runs in the first inning and never looked back, putting multiple runners on base in all but one offensive inning, and pulling away for a 10-6 win over James Madison, Friday at Smith Stadium.
With the Mountaineers (20-18, 10-8) leading 2-1 in the third inning, Golston Gillespie launched a two-run home run, over the video board in right field, scoring Hayden Cross, who led the inning off with a single to right.
The home run traveled 436-feet, and was Gilliespie’s 11th home run of the season. Cross finished with a two-hit game, tallying an RBI single in the first, extending his on-base streak to 27 consecutive games.
Later in the inning, Jonathan Xuereb was hit by a pitch and Dylan Rogers walked, and with both in scoring position after a groundout, the duo scored on a hustle play in which Andrew Terrell beat out an infield single, making it 6-1.
After JMU plated two runs in the top of the fifth inning to trim the Mountaineers lead to 6-3, App State responded with a pair of runs in the bottom half of the frame. Rogers was hit by a pitch to begin the inning, and Terrell singled to left field two batters later. CJ Boyd then smacked an opposite field double to right-center to make it 8-3. Rogers was hit by four pitches in the ballgame while drawing a walk in his only other plate appearance.
Gillespie added an RBI double in the sixth, and Terrell notched his third hit of the ballgame to drive in an insurance run in the eighth.
Xander Hamilton earned his seventh win of the season, giving up five runs (four earned) in 5.2 innings. He walked two and struck out four to give him 79 strikeouts on the season. The Mountaineers are now 9-2 when he starts a ballgame.
Collin Welch followed by striking out three in 2.1 innings out of the bullpen, and Dante Chirico tossed a scoreless ninth, picking up two strikeouts in the process.
The middle game of the series is set for 3 p.m. on Saturday with App State righty Bradley Wilson facing off with JMU righty Todd Mozoki. The contest will be broadcast on ESPN+.
