BOONE, N.C. - North Carolina A&T had a big sixth inning, but were not able to add to its run total throughout the game as Appalachian State defeated the Aggies 10-5 in baseball action at Smith Stadium on Tuesday afternoon.
Xavier Macklin made a big difference in the Aggies run total. The junior out of Rocky Mount, N.C., hit his ninth home run of the season, a grand slam in the sixth inning. Before Macklin's home run, the Aggies took advantage of a lead-off walk to Ryan Carlton in the inning. McKoy's RBI single scored Carlton to slice the Mountaineers lead to 4-1.
Riley kept the momentum going with a single. Dairio Little loaded the bases with the second walk of the inning. Macklin then stepped up to take the 5-4 lead on the first pitch he saw from Appalachian State starter Lawrence Pardo as he crushed his pitch over the center field wall.
The Aggies' explosive sixth inning was their only outburst of the game. The Mountaineers was able to recapture the lead in the seventh. Trey Holmes' RBI double to left tied the game at 5, and then later scored on a throwing error. Tyler Tewell gave the Mountaineers a two-run lead with a solo home run to right field. Appalachian State (16-13) added three runs in the eighth to secure the win.
Will Helms (2-0) picked up the win for Appalachian State, while Craig Erskine (0-4) took the loss. The Aggies (8-19) return to action Saturday afternoon when they face Bethune-Cookman in a doubleheader that starts at 1.
