Appalachian State Survives Upset Bid, Downs Furman

Game 3: #1 Appalachian State 7, #8 Furman 5
Box Score
Quotes
SoCon Tournament Central

GREENVILLE, S.C. - No.1 Appalachian State defeated No.8 Furman, 7-5 in the opening round of the 2012 Southern Conference Baseball Championship at Fluor Field.

The Mountaineers (39-14) will face the winner of the Samford and Western Carolina game Thursday afternoon at 8 p.m. The Paladins (26-30) will take on the loser of the Samford and Western Carolina game at 1 p.m. Thursday in an elimination game.

In the first inning, Furman senior Will Owens scored the first run of the game. The Mountaineers answered in the bottom of the inning when Daniel Kassouf flied out to center to score Tyler Zupuc

The Mountaineers plated four runs in the fourth to take a 5-1 lead. Trey Holmes hit a double to left field to bring home Kassouf and start the scoring for Appalachian State. Holmes, Tyler Tewell and Noah Holmes also scored

Furman added three runs in the top of the sixth. Taylor Johnson singled to the short stop bringing home Jake Jones who led off the inning with a walk. Will Miller and Paul Nitto also scored for the Paladins.

Appalachian State answered in the bottom half of the inning to extend their lead to 7-4. Kassouf drove a sacrifice fly to right bring home Hector Crespo before Tewell flied out to score Zupic, who led the Mountaineers with two runs.

Owens scored on an error to bring the Paladins within two in the top of the seventh. Owens led Furman with three hits and two runs.

Holmes and Will Callaway each had two hits for the Mountaineers while Zupic led the team with two runs.

Ryan Arrowood (10-0) earned the win on the mound, setting an ASU school record with his 27th career victory. The senior gave up eight hits and five runs, four of which were earned, while striking out five.

Bobby Lyne (6-6) took the loss after 4.2 innings of work. He gave up seven hits and five runs.