DURHAM, N.C. – Left-handed pitcher Bobby Hampton had a career afternoon on Wednesday as Appalachian State University got its second-straight win over NC Central, 7-5, at Durham Athletic Park.
The Mountaineers (8-9) outlasted a late push by the Eagles (9-8) to get their second-straight midweek win and 12-plus hitting night.
Sophomore Hampton went 6.2 innings on the evening, allowing just two runs, seven hits and striking out a career-high 10 batters. He becomes just the sixth Appalachian pitcher since 2013 to strike out double-digit batters in a game.
Mountaineer batting was also on display on Wednesday, having four players with a multi-hit effort. Tyler Stroup and Chandler Seagle both led with the way with 2-3 outings, with Stroup having an RBI. Avery Jackson and Calev Grubbs went 2-4 and 2-5, respectively, with Jackson having an RBI triple in the fourth.
Appalachian got on the board first in the top of the third when after a few walks and a bunt, Grubbs singled to left field to put Drake Zupcic on second and Stroup on third. Then, the Eagles' pitcher failed on a pickoff attempt and allowed Grubbs to take second and Zupcic and Stroup to score.
No inning would see more damage offensively than the fourth, however, as a leadoff single by Seagle and the Jackson triple scored the first run, before Stroup lined one to the right field fence to bring home Brian Bauk from second. Zupcic then reached first before capitalizing on a wild pitch and throwing error by the pitcher to make it to third. Grubbs then rocketed one down the left-field line to bring him home.
The final run for App State would come in the fifth when a Matt Vernon single, followed by a Jackson laser through the left side. Vernon then scored on heads-up baserunning when Bauk reached on a fielder's choice that was close and as the defense waited on the call that was eventually safe, Vernon ran home.
Several Mountaineer pitchers got to see action over the last quarter of the game with Tristan Helms, Matt Brill and Seth Hardin all facing batters in relief. The Eagles then loaded the bases late in the ninth and, with the tying run on deck, Reed Howell came in to finish the game and get the save.
The Mountaineers will now travel to Lafayette, La. to face their first conference opponent of 2017: Louisiana. First pitch on Friday, March 17 at 7 p.m. eastern.
