ASU fires away against VMI 
Apps take two out of three to move into eight place  in conference 
Chris Boyce Varsity Sports 

The Appalachian State baseball team continued its recent success, defeating the Virginia Military Institute Keydets twice this past weekend in Lexington, Va. and taking the series two games to one. 

On Saturday, the Mountaineers won the first game 14-7 and the second game 8-3. 

Appalachian’s Mike Lee led the offensive charge for the Mountaineers in both wins, going three for five with four RBIs in the first game, including a grand slam in the fourth inning. 

Wes Timmons and Luke Little also had solid contributions with Timmons leading off the game with a home run and Little driving in two runs.  

Rodney Lemonds (2-4) earned the win and Ryan Kelly contributed a scoreless ninth inning of relief. 

In game two of the doubleheader, Lee continued his assault, going two for four with three RBIs including a three-run home run in the fourth inning. 

Chris Behne added two hits in the win. 

Freshman sensation Tyson Blocker (3-4) notched the win while Keydet pitcher Phil Hendrix (0-6) took the loss. 

Blocker struck out nine for his third complete conference game this season. 

In the series finale VMI struck back, scoring six runs in the bottom of the first inning to defeat the Mountaineers 8-2. 

The only bright spot for Appalachian came in the top of the fourth inning when Chris Behne blasted a solo home run. 

ASU’s other run came in the seventh when Ben Wellborn’s RBI single scored Robbie Huffstetler. 

Ben Hager (2-9) of the Mountaineers took the loss. Ian Ostlund (9-2) picked up the victory. It was his 14 for his career, breaking the VMI school record previously heldby Bryan Augsburger (1982-1985). 

With the conclusion of the series, the Mountaineers’ record is 10-27-1 overall and 8-11 in conference play. 

Appalachian returns to Red Lackey Field on Wednesday at 3 p.m to face High Point. 
 

Women's tennis keeps Western winless 
Brian Meadows Varsity Sports  

The Appalachian State University women’s tennis team added insult to Western Carolina’s injury by defeating the Southern Conference winless Catamounts 9-0 in a rescheduled conference match Sunday afternoon. 

Despite the fact that Appalachian (10-6, 5-3) had their home match against Georgia Southern cancelled Saturday, again because of the weather, the Mountaineers still rode a big win (5-4) over Davidson into their match against a Western team they were expected to beat. 
True to form, they did just that, although several of the players fell minutely behind in the beginning of their matches, much to the dismay of head coach Colin Crothers. He said he felt that the expectation set before ASU of beating Western may have entered the players’ minds, causing a little distraction. 

It did not matter, because Appalachian shrugged off the slow start and focused in. 

Senior Vanessa Manicom, who was honored before the match as the only Appalachian senior, went out on top in her final regular season singles match in an Mountaineer uniform. She won in the number one singles position 6-4, 6-3. 

Tonya Eberhart, who seems to have gotten her second wind after suffering through the doldrums in singles play some this year, won 7-5, 6-2 at the number two singles position. 

Alexandra Chong, Allison Lane and Kathryn Brown also took their singles matches in straight sets, winning in the number three through five sinlges positions respectively. 

Brown, who normally alternates with teammate Donna Altenburger at the number six singles spot, played the number five singles Sunday because ASU’s Jennifer Fayad was suffering from pre-game back spasms. She filled in nicely for the injured Fayad. 

Fayad did not play, but indicated that she would be ready to practice this week, as Appalachian starts to prepare for the conference tournament. 

Altenburger won the number six singles by virtue of default due to the Catamounts only five dressed participants. 

In doubles action, Manicom and Eberhart took the number one doubles match 8-3, and the team of Chong and Altenburger joined up for the first time this season, cruising in the number two doubles, 8-2. Appalachian also won the number three doubles by default. 

At the conclusion of the match Sunday, despite the rain showers having stopped the day before, it poured on Crothers. An elated Mountaineer team, proud of the way they finished their season and proud of their second year head coach, dumped the Gatorade cooler filled with water over his head in celebration. 

If indeed the Georgia Southern match is not rescheduled, the Mountaineers will be solely focused on the conference tournament scheduled for April 27-30 in Chattanooga, Tenn., which the ASU players feel they can do well in. 

“I think that we have a big chance at the conference tournament, but I think that everybody has to give 100 percent though,” said a confident Eberhart. “If everyone does, I think at least half of us can pull it out in singles, and I know our doubles can pull us through every single match.” 
 

News and notes from the wide world of Appalachian 
Men's tennis falls to Eagles 
Men's tennis continues their losing ways 
Women's golf in fifth place after first round 

Men's tennis falls to Eagles 
Compiled from ASU-SID 

The Appalachian State men’s tennis program suffered a 4-3 loss at the hands of Georgia Southern on Saturday. 

The Mountaineers top two singles players each dropped their respective matches to put ASU behind early. Brothers Doug and Robbie Ormsby, as well as Craig Rice each garnered three-set victories to give them a 3-2 edge. Will Kiser dropped the number six singles contest in straight sets to deadlock the match at 3-3 heading into doubles play. 

Doug Ormsby and Dan Holman won the second doubles contest 8-4, but that was the only doubles win ASU could muster. GSU took the first and third doubles bouts to earn the team victory by a score of 4-3. 

With the win, Georgia Southern improves to 6-2 in the Southern Conference and 13-8 overall. Their next match is today at home against The Citadel at 2 p.m. 
 

Men's tennis continues their losing ways 
Compiled from ASU-SID 

The Davidson College men’s tennis team blanked the Mountaineers of Appalachian State 7-0 Sunday afternoon in men’s Southern Conference tennis action. 

The Wildcats dropped only three sets on the afternoon in earning its second consecutive victory. Chad Winebarger defeated Robbie Ormsby 6-0, 6-0 while Chad Phillips and Alex Okulski both earned straight set victories as well. 

The number one match had Davidson’s Brett Ialacci defeating ASU’s Dan Holman 6-3, 6-4. 

Davidson improves to 9-8 overall and 4-3 in Southern Conference action and will battle Wofford College tomorrow afternoon at 3 p.m. Appalachian falls to 6-8 overall in 6-8 in the Southern Conference. Their next match is today at Elon College at 2:30 p.m. 
 

Women's golf in fifth place after first round 
Compiled from ASU-SID 

After one round, ASU women’s golf team is in fifth place after shooting 314 at the tournament at Patriot’s Point Golf Links in Charleston, S.C. 

They trail UNC Greensboro by 25 shots after the Spartans posted a tournament record 4 over par 292. Furman is second, four strokes back followed by College of Charleston at 303. East Tennessee State is in fourth at 314, three strokes ahead of ASU. 

ASU’s Charleen Bradley led the Mountaineers with a 75, which included a triple bogey on the par three 17th. Bradley is in sixth place, seven shots behind Furman’s Jennifer Perri, who shot a four under par 68. Other Mountaineer scores are Ashley Romino at 79, Leigh Many at 81, Tomee Lee Deimantas at 82 and Melissa McCabe at 85. 
 
“Overall I was pleased with our effort today. I think our best golf is still ahead. Charleen’s round was very good,” said head coach Bill Dicus. 
 
 
 

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