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North Carolina A&T (6-9) vs. Appalachian State (6-8)
Dated: Tue 15 March
Times): 4 p.m.
Establishment: World War Memorial Stadium (East Greensboro, North Carolina)
A&T Batting Leaders
Batting average: Anthony Henning (.415)
Home runs: Cort Maynard (3)
Double: Alec Seaton (8)
Triplets: Xavier Bussey (1)
RBI: Bussey (12)
Hit percentage: Maynard (.537)
Base percentage: Hennings (.458)
A&T Pitch Leaders
TIME: Jaheim Brown (2.08)
Barred: Cellar (29)
Innings pitched: Cellar (23.0)
Checked in : Jaheim Brown (1)
A&T Big South Leaders (Top-25)
Batting average: Hennings (.415) – 2nd; Bussey (.344) – 15th; Seaton (.309) – 22nd
Home runs: Maynard (3) –5th; Bussey (2) – 14th; Brantley (2) – 22nd
Double: Seaton (8) – 2nd; Maynard (6) – 6th; Brown (5) – 12th
Triplets: Bussey (1) –15th
RBI: Bussey (12) – 12th; Seat (11) – 15th
Hit percentage: Brantley (0.667) – 7th; Seaton (.640) – 9th; Hennings (.625) – 12th; Brown (.500) – 21st
Base percentage: Brantley (.611) – 2nd; Hennings (.579) – 3rd; Brown (.533) – 7th; Seaton (.444) – 21st
National A&T Leaders (Top-100)
Batting average: Hennings (.415) – 40th
Base on balls: Brantley (13) – t-18th
Double: Seaton (8) – t-4th
Shots: Bussey (19) – 96th
Barred: Winegrower (29) – 15th
LIKELY BEGINNERS:
HPR Jaheim Brown (0-1, 2.08 ERA, 17.1 IP, 20,000) vs. RHP Gray LaSpaluto (0-0, 22.50 ERA, 2.0 IP, 2,000)
LAST MEETING: The Aggies last met the Mountaineers almost exactly a year ago on March 16 in Boone, a 15-4 loss to A&T.
WHO DID: Cort Maynard hits .471 in his last five games, allowing eight hits on 17 at-bats with three doubles and three home runs. He has six RBIs and a staggering 1.176 slugging percentage during that span.
AGGIE OVERVIEW: After earning their first sweep of the series earlier this month against Holy Cross, the Aggies have lost three straight games.
In the first week of March, A&T’s pitching staff allowed just 3.4 runs per game to go 4-1. Last week, however, the Aggies gave up 28 points in three games, averaging 9.3 points. Additionally, they are 0-7 the year their opponent scores six or more points.
A&T will also have to find a way to reduce its field problems, with eight errors in its last three contests.
The key to success is a quick start. The Aggies are 4-0 when they score in the first inning. They are 4-2 when they are the first team to score. They’ve also been good at finishing games, posting a 5-1 lead after the seventh inning. A&T is 6-0 when leading after eight.
Coach Hall is now in its eighth year at A&T. He is 147-199 (.422) at this time.
ALPINIERS OVERVIEW: The Mountaineers are 6-8 this season, but 2-3 in their last five games.
They were expected to finish 10th in the Sun Belt preseason coaches poll, receiving 38 points overall. App State also saw two players earn all-conference preseason honors in junior pitcher Tyler Tuthill and junior first baseman Luke Drumheller.
Drumheller didn’t see the start to the season he probably imagined, batting .196 on the year with 11 hits, none of which were added hits. The Mountaineers’ offensive leader is receiver Hayden Cross, who is a team-best .426. Cross has hit safely in six straight games and bats .545 (12 for 22) during that span.
Right-hander Gray LaSpaluto is the likely starter for App State on Tuesday. He pitched two innings this season while allowing five runs on seven hits.
Head Coach Kermit Smith is in his sixth season at App State. He is 98-149 in his time at Boone. Smith is in his 20th year overall as head coach with previous stints at Lander (2010-2016) and Belmont Abbey (2002-2009). Overall it is 569-508-1.
News and Notes:
· The Aggies are 2-11 against App State under Hall. Their last victory came in an 11-3 triumph inside #TheWar on February 28, 2021.
· A&T is 5-5 against right-handed starting pitchers this year.
· A&T is an extremely young team, with subclasses of 27 of their 38 (.711) registered players.
The Aggies are not just young, but new players too, with seven of the nine players in their starting XI playing their first season in a blue and gold uniform.
· A&T is second in the Big South in team batting average at .274.
· Bussey has reached base safely in all 15 games this season.
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