ASU

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From staff reports

WINSTON-SALEM — Appalachian State scored six runs in the top of the first inning and never looked back Wednesday en route to an impressive 18-8 win at Wake Forest.

Appalachian’s 18 runs were it most against a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference since ASU joined the NCAA Division I ranks in 1972. The victory is just Appalachian’s third in its past 49 meetings with ACC competition, but its second in the first five games of the 2008 campaign.

The Mountaineers beat N.C. State last Saturday.

The Mountaineers (3-2) scored early and often in the win, putting six runs on the scoreboard in the first, four in the fourth, three in the fifth, two in the sixth and three more in the seventh. All nine members of the starting lineup recorded at least one run and one hit and seven of the starting nine drove in runs. The damage could have been worse, as the Mountaineers left 11 men on base.

Third baseman Isaac Harrow, left fielder David Rubinstein and second baseman Wes Hobson led Appalachian’s 18-hit onslaught with three hits apiece. The trio drove in four, three and two runs, respectively.

Starting pitcher Aubrey Edens overcame a three-run first to surrender just five runs over five innings to earn his first win of the season.

ASU 9, N.C. A&T 6
GREENSBORO — Highlighted by Hobson’s first-career grand slam, Appalachian State scored seven runs in the fifth-inning Tuesday in a 9-6 victory over North Carolina A&T at War Memorial Stadium.

Hobson’s two-out grand slam to right field capped a seven-run fifth that turned Appalachian’s 4-2 deficit into a 9-4 lead. Hobson’s blast was one of only three hits in the seven-run frame, as ASU benefitted from four walks in the inning. In all, Appalachian drew 12 walks in the game.

As has been the case in three of the Mountaineers’ first four games, the Appalachian State bullpen turned in an impressive effort. Three ASU relievers combined to surrender just one run on four hits over five innings of work to make the lead stand up. The Aggies tacked on a pair of runs in the ninth to account for the final margin.

Appalachian State shortstop Jason Altenhof collected three of the Mountaineers’ seven hits, going 3-for-3 with two walks and a run. Hobson’s four RBIs matched a the career high he reached five times as a freshman last season.

ASU freshman Taylor Miller picked up his first-career win, allowing just one run on two hits and striking out three in two innings of relief.