May 9, 2008

BOONE, N.C. -- Wes Hobson's two-run triple in the eighth inning broke open a scoreless game and lifted Appalachian State to a 5-0 win over Furman in Southern Conference baseball action Friday evening at Smith Stadium.

Hobson's one-out hit into the right center field gap off Furman starting pitcher Jay Jackson plated Adam Beasley and Jason Altenhof. Hobson later scored on a three-run home run by Isaac Harrow that stretched the Mountaineer lead to 5-0.

The win snapped Furman's school record 13-game conference winning streak and dropped the Paladins (29-18, 15-7 SoCon) into second place in the league race behind Elon. The shutout was the first suffered by the Paladins in league play since 2002.

The win was the third straight for Appalachian State (27-23, 11-11 SoCon).

Jackson (9-2) had stymied the Mountaineers' bats over the first seven innings, yielding only three singles before the Mountaineers erupted for five runs in the eighth. The loss was his first since late March. In all he allowed five runs on seven hits. He walked two and struck out three.

Outdueling Jackson in Friday's series opener was Matt Andress (8-3), who went the distance, allowing six hits and no walks while striking out six.

Through seven innings Furman and Appalachian State managed only one real scoring opportunity each. In the Paladin fourth lead off man Marcus Rose doubled down the right field line but was thrown out trying to stretch it into a triple. In the Mountaineer sixth, Rand Smith led off with a single and Altenhof reached on an error by Paladin third baseman Brian Harrison. But David Rubenstein hit into a double play to end the threat.

Jason Rook had two of ASU's seven hits. Harrow's three-run blast gave him a game high three RBI, and Hobson's two-run triple accounted for the other two Mountaineers RBI.

Marcus Rose and Matt Hemingway had two hits each to the lead the Paladins.

The teams play game two of the three-game series Saturday evening at 7:00 p.m.