ASU baseball team grabs sweep
by Steve Behr Sports Editor
By Steve Behr
sports@waqtaugademocrat.com
SPARTANBURG, S.C. -Hector Crespo had to wait one game before getting a chance to play college baseball. He didn't waste his opportunity.
Crespo, a freshman from Miami, played third base because every-day third baseman Ryan Arrowood started on the mound for the Mountaineers. Crespo made the most of his playing time, particularly at the plate, by going 3-for-4 and driving in three runs in the Mountaineers' 11-0 pasting of USC Upstate on a beautiful Saturday afternoon at Harley Park.
Arrowood did his part to provide the Mountaineers' second straight victory. The sophomore gave up just four hits, three of them singles, and fanned eight. Counting his 12 victories with the Forest City Owls during the summer, Arrowood has won his last 14 starts going back to a win last season at ASU.
"Everything was working well today," Arrowood said. "My curveball was hitting spots well and my fastball was too. I was also able to keep them off-balance with my change-up as well, so it allowed me to use all of my pitches. The defense also did well, too. We have a great defense, so if I put the ball in play, we're going to be fine."
Crespo played a big role in ASU's win Saturday. Appalachian State broke open a scoreless tie in the top of the fifth inning with back-to-back solo home runs from Crespo and Jason Wallace. Three batters later, Jerod Faggart belted a two-run homer that gave the Mountaineers a 4-0 lead.
"I was glad I got the opportunity to play today," Crespo said. "You get a little nervous playing, but once you start playing it's still baseball."
Crespo's blast, a fastball that he hit over the 402 distance sign in centerfield, was his second career hit in college. Playing in his first college game, Crespo beat out a bunt in the second inning for his first collegiate hit.
Appalachian State added seven runs in the seventh inning, keyed by a two-run single by Crespo, a two-run double by fellow freshman Tyler Zupcic and an RBI double by Wes Hopson.
"We looked good swinging the bat and the pitching was good today," Hobson said. "I'm excited because the way we swung the bat and pitched the ball, I think it's the start of a good year."
There was also a frightening moment in the inning when a Doug Jones line drive hit the first-base umpire in the head, but the ump was not injured and he finished the game.
Appalachian State finished with 13 hits in the game. Faggart, hitting in the lead-off position, went 3-for-3 with three RBIs, while Jones, Zupcic and Hobson each had two hits.
"The thing about this is those are two good clubs and we saw both of their number one pitchers," Pollard said of the weekend. "(USC Upstate's Matt) Branham is a Friday night starter in our conference. He's the type of guy we're going to see in our league."
USC Upstate (0-1) nearly put some runs on the board against freshman pitcher Tyler Jackson, but the lefty from Starmount High pitched out of a bases-loaded jam in the seventh and set three Upstate batters down in order after walking the first two in the sixth.
Nathan Hyatt and Seth Grant each pitched a scoreless inning in the eighth and ninth, respectively, to finish off the Spartans.
ASU plays Garnder-Webb in Forest City on Tuesday.
Appalachian State 11, USC Upstate 0
Appalachian State 000 040 700 - 11 13 0
USC Upstate 000 000 000 - 0 6 1
Arrowood, Jackson (6), Hyatt (8), Grant (9) and Faggart. Branham, Stover (6), Stegbauer (7), Wyant (8) and Medley. W-Arrowood (1-0), L-Branham (0-1). LOB-ASU 6 USC Upstate 11. 2B-ASU, Hobson, Jones, Zupcic; USC Upstate, Tanner. HR-ASU, Faggart (1), Crespo (1), Wallace (1). DP-USC Upstate 1.
sports@waqtaugademocrat.com
SPARTANBURG, S.C. -Hector Crespo had to wait one game before getting a chance to play college baseball. He didn't waste his opportunity.
Crespo, a freshman from Miami, played third base because every-day third baseman Ryan Arrowood started on the mound for the Mountaineers. Crespo made the most of his playing time, particularly at the plate, by going 3-for-4 and driving in three runs in the Mountaineers' 11-0 pasting of USC Upstate on a beautiful Saturday afternoon at Harley Park.
Arrowood did his part to provide the Mountaineers' second straight victory. The sophomore gave up just four hits, three of them singles, and fanned eight. Counting his 12 victories with the Forest City Owls during the summer, Arrowood has won his last 14 starts going back to a win last season at ASU.
"Everything was working well today," Arrowood said. "My curveball was hitting spots well and my fastball was too. I was also able to keep them off-balance with my change-up as well, so it allowed me to use all of my pitches. The defense also did well, too. We have a great defense, so if I put the ball in play, we're going to be fine."
Crespo played a big role in ASU's win Saturday. Appalachian State broke open a scoreless tie in the top of the fifth inning with back-to-back solo home runs from Crespo and Jason Wallace. Three batters later, Jerod Faggart belted a two-run homer that gave the Mountaineers a 4-0 lead.
"I was glad I got the opportunity to play today," Crespo said. "You get a little nervous playing, but once you start playing it's still baseball."
Crespo's blast, a fastball that he hit over the 402 distance sign in centerfield, was his second career hit in college. Playing in his first college game, Crespo beat out a bunt in the second inning for his first collegiate hit.
Appalachian State added seven runs in the seventh inning, keyed by a two-run single by Crespo, a two-run double by fellow freshman Tyler Zupcic and an RBI double by Wes Hopson.
"We looked good swinging the bat and the pitching was good today," Hobson said. "I'm excited because the way we swung the bat and pitched the ball, I think it's the start of a good year."
There was also a frightening moment in the inning when a Doug Jones line drive hit the first-base umpire in the head, but the ump was not injured and he finished the game.
Appalachian State finished with 13 hits in the game. Faggart, hitting in the lead-off position, went 3-for-3 with three RBIs, while Jones, Zupcic and Hobson each had two hits.
"The thing about this is those are two good clubs and we saw both of their number one pitchers," Pollard said of the weekend. "(USC Upstate's Matt) Branham is a Friday night starter in our conference. He's the type of guy we're going to see in our league."
USC Upstate (0-1) nearly put some runs on the board against freshman pitcher Tyler Jackson, but the lefty from Starmount High pitched out of a bases-loaded jam in the seventh and set three Upstate batters down in order after walking the first two in the sixth.
Nathan Hyatt and Seth Grant each pitched a scoreless inning in the eighth and ninth, respectively, to finish off the Spartans.
ASU plays Garnder-Webb in Forest City on Tuesday.
Appalachian State 11, USC Upstate 0
Appalachian State 000 040 700 - 11 13 0
USC Upstate 000 000 000 - 0 6 1
Arrowood, Jackson (6), Hyatt (8), Grant (9) and Faggart. Branham, Stover (6), Stegbauer (7), Wyant (8) and Medley. W-Arrowood (1-0), L-Branham (0-1). LOB-ASU 6 USC Upstate 11. 2B-ASU, Hobson, Jones, Zupcic; USC Upstate, Tanner. HR-ASU, Faggart (1), Crespo (1), Wallace (1). DP-USC Upstate 1.