May 16, 2001
Game 3: #6 Appalachian State Scores 4-2 Extra Inning Win Over #3 Seed Furman
CHARLESTON, S.C. Sixth seed Appalachian State erased a 2-0 deficit in the
eighth inning and scored twice again in the 10th inning to post a 4-2 win over
third-seed Furman in Game 3 of the Wendy's/Pepsi-Cola Southern Conference Baseball
Tournament being held at Riley Park.
The win propels Appalachian to a winner's bracket semifinal game at 7:30 on Thursday with the winner of the late game featuring East Tennessee State and The Citadel.Furman falls into the loser's bracket and the Paladins will play on Thursday at 1:00 pm against the loser of the Citadel-ETSU contest.
Furman (30-24) starter Toby David was cruising along, having allowed just five hits through seven innings.The Paladins had built a 2-0 lead with a pair of runs in the fifth. Danny Rueckel led off the frame by reaching on a three-base error by ASUs centerfielder. Rueckel would score on a balk called against ASU starter Ben Hager. Justin Maderer reached on an infield single, moved to second on the balk and scored on a double by Chris Valdes.
Appalachian State (20-30) knotted the game with two runs in the eighth. Graham Thompson started the inning with an infield single. Wes Timmons sac bunt was mishandled, leaving runners at first and second. Robbie Huffstetler sacrificed Thompson and Timmons to second and third before Chris Downard grounded out, scoring Thompson and moving Timmons to third. Timmons then scored on a wild pitch by David to tie the game.
In the tenth inning, Thompson singled to left with one out. Timmons followed with a single, moving Thompson to second. Huffstetler singled to left to load the bases. After Downard fouled out, Rob Purvis replaced David on the mound. Mike Lee greeted Purvis with a two run double down the rightfield line.
After Hager allowed a lead off single to Dominic Frankey in the 10th, he was replaced by Matt Wood who would earn his eighth save of the season by retiring the side. Hager allowed just seven hits through nine innings in earning his fourth win of the year against three losses. He did not issue a walk and struck out two. David walked two and struck out one as his record fell to 8-4.