BOONE, N.C. -- ULM (11-8, 1-3 Sun Belt Conference) surrendered runs in three different innings and Appalachian State (6-15, 1-6 SBC) claimed a 7-0 win in the series opener Friday night at Smith Stadium.
Appalachian State struck first with a pair of runs in the bottom of the first inning as Conner Leonard drove in a pair with a RBI double to left center. In the bottom of the third, the Mountaineers pushed their lead to 4-0 as Dillon Dobson hit a solo homer and Noah Holmes tallied a RBI triple.
The Warhawks tallied three two-out hits between the fourth and fifth innings but all three ULM base runners were left stranded. Keelin Rasch tripled in the top of the fourth, while Spencer Hemphill and Justin Stawychny tallied back-to-back singles in the fifth. The three base runners in the fourth and fifth would be the final of the night for ULM.
In the home half of the seventh, Appalachian State plated a trio of unearned runs to push its lead to 7-0.
ULM starter Alex Hermeling (2-4) was tagged with the loss after allowing four runs on seven hits with three walks and five strikeouts. During his five innings of work he tossed 96 pitches (61 for strikes). Anthony Herrera (1.1 IP), Matthew Reeves (0.1 IP) and Logan Dopson (1.1 IP) closed out the game on the hill for the Warhawks.
For updates throughout the season on the baseball squad, be sure to follow the team on Twitter @ULM_BSB and Facebook (www.facebook.com/ULMBaseball).
#PeddiePostGame
“Alex Hermeling did what we needed him to do as a weekend starter; he helped save our bullpen for the weekend. Anthony Herrera came in and did well for us; Matthew Reeves surrendered the unearned run but our defense had some lapses that inning. Logan Dopson gave us a good outing as well. Unfortunately, Taylor Thuber [App State pitcher] kept us off balance as he hit his spots and we just couldn't get anything going.”
#WarhawkNotables
-Friday's contest between ULM and Appalachian State was the first-ever meeting on the baseball diamond… The tilt was also ULM's first-ever game against a team from the state of North Carolina.
-Keelin Rasch hit his first triple of the season (and fourth career) with two outs in the top of the fourth inning.
-Alex Hermeling logged five innings of work on the hill and he has pitched at least five innings in all six starts this season.
-Reliever Matthew Reeves made his first appearance in a Sun Belt Conference game as he pitched in the series opener at Appalachian State.
#NextGame
ULM and Appalachian State will continue the three-game Sun Belt Conference series with a 2 p.m. (ET) contest on Saturday.
