Mountaineers sweep Elon
From staff reports

ELON — Appalachian State, after falling to Elon in the first game of a rare Southern Conference three-game series Wednesday, roared back to sweep a doubleheader from the Phoenix Thursday night.

The Mountaineers rallied to win the first game 9-3 and then took an early 16-run lead in the second game and cruised to a 26-10 win.

Appalachian State (26-23, 11-10 SoCon) took a 16-0 lead in the second game after scoring 13 runs in the first two innings. The Mountaineers opened with two runs in the first inning and then a season-high 11 runs in the second inning. Appalachian State added three more runs in the fourth inning to take a 16-0 lead.

Elon (34-16, 16-8) would cut that lead in half by scoring eight runs in the bottom of the fourth. However, the Phoenix would not get any closer.

Appalachian State rapped out 26 singles and three doubles in the second game. Jason Altenhof went 5-for-8, while David Rubinstein (4-for-5) and Wes Hobson (4-for-6) each scored five runs. Isaac Harrow (5-for-8) drove in five runs, while Rubinstein and Jason Rook each drove in four.

Altenhof, Hobson, Rubinstein, Harrow and Rook, the top five batters in the Mountaineers’ order, combined to go 21-for-33 with 17 RBIs and 17 runs scored.

Rook also pitched 3 1/3 innings of relief to pick up the win. He is 2-4 this year.

The first game featured a pitcher’s duel between Appalachian State’s Matt Andress and Elon ace Steven Hensley. Appalachian State trailed 3-1 going into the ninth inning, but tied the game with a bases-loaded, two-run single by Andrew Franco.

Appalachian State’s next batter, Adam Beasley, reached base on an error, which turned out to be fatal to the Phoenix. The Mountaineers went on to score six runs in the inning, which was capped by a three-run double by Harrow.

Mountaineers closer Garrett Sherrill struck out the side in just 11 pitches to preserve the win. Andress threw 137 pitches in eight innings to improve his record to 7-3.

Appalachian State returns home this Friday to host Furman in a three-game series. The Mountaineers were to host East Tennessee State Wednesday, but the game was cancelled.