Going into the weekend, App State’s playoff chances had been essentially eliminated, meaning the pressure was off when facing East Carolina.
ECU, which won the 2017 NCBA World Series and lost it last year, came into the series ranked atop the NCBA Division I poll with 9 first place votes. Apparently that was news to the Mountaineers as they gave the Pirates a run for their money.
App State lost both games of last Saturday’s double header by scores of 3-0 and 10-2, but over an eleven inning stretch from the third inning of the first game through the sixth inning of the second game, ECU and App State each only scored two runs.
The Mountaineers only collected five hits all day on Saturday coming from Nick Goard, Matt Alexander, Griffin Mercer, Evan Edmiston, and Jordan Howlett, but the starting pitching over the first two games gave them a chance to win both games.
Despite taking the loss in game one, Christian Stokes returned to form with a complete game performance. He allowed six hits, three earned runs, walked five, and struck out eight.
In game two, Ryan O’Kelly took the loss, but allowed only two earned runs over six innings. He allowed five hits, five total runs, seven walks, and struck out seven. ECU’s bats came alive in the seventh inning and put up eight runs on O’Kelly, Taylor James, and Jordan Hrabar.
App State showed signs that they could compete with ECU throughout the double header and on Sunday, it all came together. The Mountaineers scored five runs on nine hits including an RBI double from Justin Greer, two hits from Griffin Mercer including a 2-RBI single, an RBI single from Matt Anders, and two hits from Matt Alexander including an RBI single. The Mountaineers scored all five runs in the first three innings.
Todd Rule was brilliant on the mound for the Mountaineers. Over eight innings and 155 pitches, Rule allowed only five hits, three earned runs, and five walks while he struck out eight. Rule earned his second win on the year as Sam Goff earned the save.
Sunday marked the last day of four Mountaineers’ playing careers.
President and starting pitcher Presson Norwood finished the year with 6.0 IP, a 6.00 ERA, 6 K, 8 BB, and a record of 0-1. Norwood will graduate in December 2019.
Senior pitcher Taylor James finished the year allowing 4 runs on the year without recording an out, but James stepped up as a true leader in developing a positive environment and helping new pitchers understand the demands of club baseball. James will graduate this May.
Treasurer and outfielder Nick Goard finished the year one of the team’s offensive leaders. He led the team in batting average (0.432), on-base percentage (0.509), on-base plus slugging (1.237), triples (1), runs scored (18), and stolen bases (4) and was second in slugging percentage (0.727), home runs (3), and RBI (11). Goard will not graduate until May 2020, but plans on student teaching next spring.
Club Sports Representative and senior Justin Greer was also an offensive leader for the Mountaineers. He finished the year top-five in all major hitting categories among players with at least 20 plate appearances including average (0.314), on-base percentage (0.444), OPS (1.016), slugging percentage (0.571), doubles (6- led the team), home runs (1), RBI (10), runs scored (9), and stolen bases (2). Greer’s season would have likely been better if he had not sustained a hamstring injury late in the year. Greer will graduate in December 2019.
For the Mountaineers, they finish the season with a 6-8 overall record and 4-7 in the conference despite only playing two games against UNC and not playing against UNCW due to weather. All six wins came against teams that were at one point ranked or received votes to be ranked (UNCC-2, NC State-1, UNC-2, and ECU-1).
Among the 26 returning players are all three members of the starting rotation, new President and Vice President and offensive leaders Evan Edmiston and Griffin Mercer, and their entire young core. They have a great chance to compete again next year and in the years to come.
Appalachian State Club Baseball 