Appalachian State Rallies Past Bulldogs 10-5 in Opener

OF Nick Orvin (Moncks Corner, S.C.)

Final	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
The Citadel (8-9, 1-3)	2	0	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	5	10	1
Appalachian State (15-3, 4-0)	0	0	1	1	0	3	2	3	X	10	14	0
@ Boone, N.C. | Smith Stadium

Pitching
Win: Arrowood (4-0) - Appalachian State
Loss: James Reeves (4-2) - The Citadel
Save: Hyatt (7) - Appalachian State

The Citadel Batting
2B: Tyler Griffin
3B: none
HR: Nick Orvin

Appalachian State Batting
2B: Zupcic; Callaway; NHolmes; Troutman 2
3B: none
HR: Kassouf; Tewell; NHolmes

full stats

Boone, N.C. – Depsite a four-hit performance from Nick Orvin, The Citadel was unable to hold on to a five-run lead Friday evening and host Appalachian State scored 10 unanswered runs for a 10-5 victory in Southern Conference action at Smith Stadium. The two teams will meet Saturday afternoon for game two at 2 p.m.

Orvin, and his season-high four hits, was the hot bat for the Bulldogs' offense, blasting a two-run homer in the first inning after Joe Jackson drew a one-out walk. The round-tripper was Orvin's first of the season and 19^th of his career.

The Citadel (8-9, 1-3 SoCon) extended its lead to 5-0 with three more runs in the third off Appalachian starter Ryan Arrowood. Mason Davis opened the frame with a single through the right side and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Jackson reached on a fielder's choice when Davis beat out the putout attempt at third, putting runners at the corners with no outs for Orvin. The senior centerfielder ripped a RBI single down the right-field line, plating Davis and moving Jackson to third. Two outs later, Tyler Griffin stroked a two-run double to the wall in center to clear the bases and put the Bulldogs in command.

However, Appalachian (15-3, 4-0) did not go away, scoring in five of its final six at-bats to take the series opener. The Mountaineers scored single runs in the third and fourth innings, chipping away at the Bulldogs' lead, before knotting the game at 5-5 with a three-run sixth. RBI singles by Daniel Kassouf and Trey Holmes accounted for first two runs, while a solo homer by Noah Holmes and a two-run double by Will Callaway tied the game in the sixth.

With James Reeves on the mound for the Bulldogs in the seventh, the freshman southpaw walked both batters he faced before being relieved by fellow frosh Ross White. White recorded one out before Preston Troutman doubled a 2-1 pitch to the wall in right center, giving Appalachian a 7-5 lead.

The Mountaineers scored three runs in the eighth, using a two-run homer by Kassouf and a solo shot by Tyler Tewell to extend their lead to 10-5.

The Bulldogs threatened in the ninth, loading the bases, but Nathan Hyatt came in and got Orvin to ground out to third to end the game.

Pritcher allowed four runs on 10 hits in 5-1/3 innings, receiving a no decision. Reeves took the loss to fall to 4-2 on the season. Davis and Calvin Orth each had two hits to join Orvin with multi-hit efforts.

Arrowood improved to 4-0 on the season for Appalachian, scattering seven hits over seven innings and giving up the five runs. Callaway and Troutman recorded three hits apiece for the Mountaineers.

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