ASU bashes N.C. Central 17-0
By Steve Behr
 
Appalachian State’s baseball team struck quickly and often at North Carolina Central and cruised to a 17-0 victory over the Eagles at Smith Stadium Wednesday. The Mountaineers (28-17), who have won nine straight, scored at least two runs in the first five innings of the game against an N.C. Central team that brought just 14 players to Boone because their teammates were taking exams.

Appalachian State finishes April with an 18-2 record, but takes seven days off before closing out its Southern Conference season at UNC Greensboro. The Mountaineers used six pitchers, including weekend starters Matt Andress, Josh Dowdy and Aubrey Edens and closer Zach Quate, so they would not go nearly two weeks without pitching.

It was more than enough to contain the Eagles, who managed six hits against them, Nick Daniels and Michael Brogan.

Appalachian State’s Isaac Harrow offense produced three hits — including a double and a home run, his 11th of the season. Harrow, now hitting .423, added a sacrifice fly, giving him four RBIs for the game.

His replacement, Seth Grant, hit a home run in his first college at-bat in the seventh inning. Backup infielder Doug Jones went 2-for-3 with two RBIs, Rand Smith went 2-for-4 in four innings before heading to the bench after walking in the fifth, and Wes Hobson had a two-run home run in the second inning and finished 2-for-3 from the plate.

Overall, Appalachian State used a season-high 24 players.

N.C. Central (5-30), which is in transition from Division II to Division I, nearly scored in the sixth inning when Blake Murry reached third base with two outs, but Edens was able to strike out the final batter to end the inning.

Appalachian State has three home games left on the schedule, all non-conference tilts with Longwood. The teams play a single game May 14 and a doubleheader May 15.

Appalachian St. 17, N.C. Central 0
N.C. Central 000 000 000 — 0 6 2
Appalachian State 363 220 10X — 17 16 0
Dalley, Oatis (3), Jordan (5), Citero (9) and Strickland. Andress, Dowdy (4), Edens (6), Daniels (7), Quate (8), Brogan (9) and Faggart, Trappy (5). W—Andress (3-5), L—Dalley (0-7). LOB—ASU 11, N.C. Central 7. 2B—ASU, Smith, Harrow, Jones, Helms, Wallace, Faggart. HR—ASU, Hobson, Harrow, Grant. SF—Harrow.