Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2 Game 1 | Game 2
BOONE, N.C. - Butler pounded out 17 hits and capitalized on five Appalachian State errors in a 12-7 win on Saturday. ASU won the first game 6-2.
Freshman Michael Kseniak went 4-for-6 and drove in two runs to lead the Bulldogs, who defeated a team that beat North Carolina State a week ago. It was Appalachian State's first loss of the season.
Senior Jimmy Risi homered and had two RBIs and Ryan Wojciechowski and Jack Dillon each drove in a pair of runs. Kyle Kramp worked 6.0 solid innings for the win. Gunner Johnson pitched three frames for the save.
Butler built a 5-1 lead early in the game before Risi's solo home run ignited a big inning in the top of the 4th. With two outs in the 4th and BU leading 5-4, Risi lifted a pitch out to left. It was his third homer of the season. After senior Lucas Calderon reached on an error, senior Radley Haddad walked and Wojciechowski followed with a two-run double. Suddenly, BU led 9-4.
Risi singled and scored in the top of the 7th and freshman Drew Small scored on Risi's single to extend the lead to 11-4. Kseniak scored on an error in the 8th to round out the scoring. Appalachian State scored three runs late but never threatened in the game.
In the day's first game, junior Marcos Calderon led off the game with a home run to left and the early innings belonged to the pitchers. Sophomore Eric Stout went pitch-for-pitch with ASU's Jamie Nunn. The game was tied 1-1 until BU scored in the top of the 5th on an RBI single by Kseniak.
Stout left after 5.1 innings when the Bulldogs found trouble in the 6th. Appalachian State's Alex Leach slugged a three-run homer to key a four-run inning and ASU lead 5-2. The home team added a run in the bottom of the 7th to provide the final margin.
For the day, Ksneiak had five hits and while Marcos Calderon and Haddad had three hits. Haddad doubled and tripled. On the mound, Billy Laing threw 2.2 solid innings, striking out four.
Butler and Appalachian State conclude their series Sunday with a single game at 1 p.m. Senior lefty Kevin Lenkman is scheduled to pitch for the Bulldogs.
