ASU takes on Phoenix
By Steve Behr
sports@wataugademocrat.com

It doesn’t happen often, but Appalachian State’s baseball team will be playing Southern Conference games during the week.

It begins Wednesday with a 7 p.m. game at Elon. That will be followed by a doubleheader Thursday beginning at 3 p.m. All of the games will be played at Elon’s Latham Park.

Appalachian State goes into the game with a four-game winning streak. The Mountaineers swept Davidson in three games over the weekend at Smith Stadium, giving them an 8-10 SoCon record, 24-22 overall.

Their league mark is a sharp contrast to the 1-8 record the Mountaineers had after their first three series of the season. Since they were 1-8, which included three-game sweeps by UNC Greensboro and College of Charleston, the Mountaineers have won seven of their last night conference games.

Elon goes into the game with an overall mark of 33-14, 15-6 in the SoCon. The Phoenix are hopeful that if they don’t win the Southern Conference Tournament, they can reach the NCAA’s with an at-large bid.

Appalachian State will likely have to win the tournament to get into the NCAAs. It’s helpful that the Mountaineers are starting to play better. Pitching has been key to the Mountaineers’ resurgence.

The Mountaineers have many options with their staff this week. Matt Andress won his game Friday, while Josh Dowdy and Aubrey Edens picked up wins Saturday and Sunday.

Appalachian State coach Chris Pollard can use any of those three to start. He could also use Zach Quate, who has been effective as a midweek starter. Quate threw six solid innings in the Mountaineers’ 9-3 victory over Gardner-Webb last Wednesday.

The Mountaineers will have the weekend off and won’t play again until East Tennessee State visits Smith Stadium next Wednesday.