JONESBORO, Ark. (4/19/24) – Arkansas State baseball (17-21, 4-12 SBC) battled early against App State (21-14, 7-9 SBC), but the Scarlet and Black were unable to keep pace as they fell 20-7 on Friday night at Tomlinson Stadium.
 
Jelle van der Lelie (2-6) became the first Red Wolf to reach 10 starts this season, surrendering nine runs (seven earned) on eight hits and two walks while striking out one more over 3.2 innings pitched.
 
Nyan Hayes had a career day at the plate, finishing 2-for-4 with two home runs and four RBIs, including a three-run shot in the fifth inning.
 
Allen Grier started the action with a solo-home run over the right-field wall to give A-State an early advantage. However, Xavier Moronta tied the game up in the top of the second after firing a double down the right field line, making the score 1-1.
 
Hayes recorded the second solo-shot of the day in the next frame, but the Red Wolves’ momentum ended there. The Mountaineers blew the game open with a pair of two-run homers from Banks Tolley and Braxton Church.
 
A pair of throwing errors at pitcher and third base resulted in two more runs scored, capping off a six run inning that put App State ahead 7-2.
 
Moronta struck again in the fourth with another double, this time bringing in two runs and extending their lead to seven. Cason Campbell cut into the deficit with a solo-home run to the scoreboard in right field, but the deficit stood at six going into the fifth.
 
After holding App State scoreless in the top frame, Austen Jaslove fired an RBI-single to right field before Nyan Hayes crushed his second home run of the game. It was the sixth home run of the contest and put the Scarlet and Black two runs away from tying the game.
 
App State responded in the sixth with an RBI-double from CJ Boyd that was immediately followed with an RBI-single from Braxton Church. A sacrifice fly from Adam Quintero added another run and made the score 12-7 in favor of the Mountaineers.
 
After a scoreless seventh, Joseph Zamora landed a two-run homer just inside the foul pole in right field to extend the lead back to seven runs in the eighth. The Mountaineers scored six runs in the ninth off three bases-loaded walks plus an HBP, single, and fielder’s choice.
 
The Red Wolves were unable to make a rally as they fell by 13 runs. Bradley Wilson (2-3) earned the win and Cody Little (1) claimed the save while van der Lelie (2-6) took the loss.

NEXT UP
Arkansas State continues their series with App State on Saturday, April 20 at Tomlinson Stadium. First pitch is set for 4:00 p.m. on ESPN+ and can be heard on 95.3/96.9 The Ticket Radio Network along with the A-State Red Wolves mobile app.
 
SOCIAL MEDIA
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