By David Rogers. ATLANTA, Ga. — App State jumped in front of Georgia State with a 7-run first inning in Game 3 of the weekend series and never looked back en route to a 13-9 victory. Designated hitter Joseph Moronta played a key role with six RBIs in the Sunday afternoon affair at the GSU Baseball Complex.
Moronta’s red-letter day included a home run in his 3-4 outing, scoring a pair of runs to go with his six RBIs. His dinger was a grand slam in the top half of the 4th inning, accounting for four of the Mountaineers’ five runs in the frame that expanded their lead to 12-5.
After App State’s 7-run outburst to open the game, Georgia State reliever Duncan Lutz was called in from the bullpen to stop the rally. He blanked the Mountaineers in the second and third innings, but trouble started from the get-go in the 4th inning, when Austin St. Laurent singled and Drew Holderbach walked after pushing the count to 3-2. With runners on first and second, Banks Tolley singled to center, bringing in St. Laurent and that was the end for Lutz.
His replacement, righthander Trent Reddick, didn’t fare any better. C J Boyd laced a single to left, loading the bases and setting the stage for Moronta’s grand slam HR.
App State manufactured an insurance run in the 8th inning, a one-out Moronta single scoring Tolley from second base.
Counting a rare “tie” in Game 3 vs. Arkansas State a week ago, the Mountaineers are unbeaten over the last seven games and have jumped up to fifth place in the Sun Belt Conference standings and nine more SBC games to play before the conference tournament.
With the win, App State’s record improves to 26-14-1 overall and 11-9-1 in Sun Belt play. They play at Wake Forest on April 30, with first pitch slated for 6 p.m. at Keeter Stadium in Shelby, N.C.
KEY PERFORMERS
- APP – Xavier Moronta: 3-4, 2 runs scored, 6 RBIs, HR (grand slam), walk
- APP – Banks Tolley: 2-4, 3 runs scored, 2 RBIs, walk
- APP – Hunter Wilder: 1-4, 1 run scored, 2 RBIs, 2B, walk
- APP – Tommy Walker: 3-4, 1 run scored, 1 RBI, 2B, walk
- APP – Drew Holderbach: 0-2, 2 runs scored, 3 walks, stolen base
