On Friday, the Mountaineers baseball team traveled to Norfolk, Virginia to take on the Old Dominion University Monarchs for a weekend conference series.
The Mountaineers got off to a rocky start Friday night, losing the first game 13-7. Despite the loss in the first game, App State showed offensive strength early. In the second inning, the Mountaineers scored 6 runs that were highlighted by hits from graduate student infielder Joseph Zamora and sophomore infielder Ethan Puig.
Puig finished the night with multiple RBIs, while Zamora had 2 hits that helped set the tone early. Redshirt junior first baseman Jalen Seward also recorded an RBI as the Mountaineers jumped out to an early start.
ODU started to cut the lead down by delivering a 5-run fifth inning that changed the course of the game. The Monarchs started to take advantage of opportunities, limiting the Mountaineers’ chances late and handing App State its first loss of the series. Following the loss, the Mountaineers quickly hit the reset button and delivered in game two.
On Saturday, the Mountaineers came out more determined to win and not let the series get away from them. They put together one of their best offensive performances of the season with a 10-3 win. Their offensive firepower kept the pressure on ODU the whole game.
Zamora had an RBI sacrifice fly while senior outfielder Charlie Evans added an RBI single to extend the lead, and senior outfielder Tank Yaghoubi had an RBI hit that helped build some separation.
On the mound, App State responded after Friday night’s high-scoring game by limiting ODU’s opportunities. The pitching staff held the Monarchs to 3 runs and avoided making errors. Strong pitching allowed the Mountaineers to control the game and even out the series 1-1 heading into Sunday. With the series on the line, Sunday’s matchup carried more intensity for App State.
In game three, the Mountaineers delivered one of their biggest moments in the third inning. App State scored 5 runs and took control of the game early. Seward contributed an RBI single and helped extend the Mountaineers’ lead. Zamora once again had a great game, finishing the game with 1 run, 1 hit, and 2 RBIs.
ODU responded by cutting the lead to 1 after a 5-run inning, creating tension in the final innings. The momentum was starting to shift toward the Monarchs, but the Mountaineers answered with a few late runs and secured a 10-6 victory and a 2-1 series victory.
One of the biggest takeaways from the series was the balance in App State’s lineup. Zamora recorded multiple hits in the opener and run-producing bats throughout the series. Puig’s 3 RBI performance on Friday and an RBI single on Sunday highlighted his impact in key moments. Seward’s 2-RBI hits in the final game helped create separation, and sophomore utility player Riley Luft also had a great game, finishing with 1 run, 1 hit, and 3 RBIs in the finale.
The pitching staff also showed improvement as the series progressed. After allowing 13 runs in the series opener, App State only allowed 9 total runs in the last two games of the series. The bullpen delivered important outs late in both wins, preventing ODU from making any comeback attempts.
App State will look to carry that momentum into upcoming conference matchups as the season progresses. The Mountaineers will return to the High Country and take on High Point University on Tuesday. The game will begin at 6 p.m. and will be streamed live on ESPN+.
