A Narrow Loss in Montgomery
The Appalachian State Mountaineers opened their SBC Tournament campaign with a 6-5 defeat to Texas State on a warm evening in Montgomery, Alabama. The contest featured a back-and-forth battle that saw the lead shift multiple times before Texas State pulled ahead in the sixth inning.
Texas State seized momentum with a two-run double from Blake Beheler that put them ahead early. App State answered with a solo homer from Jalen Seward, a 413-foot shot that marked his fifth of the season, and a timely RBI double from Kameron Miller that tied the game at 2-2.
The Mountaineers continued to chip away, with Nico Soul delivering an RBI double in the eighth to keep them within striking distance. In the ninth, Ethan Puig’s RBI double narrowed the gap to a single run, but the rally stalled and the lead slipped away.
On the mound, Gage Peterson turned in a solid outing, striking out six batters over seven innings, yet the loss was charged to him as Texas State’s bullpen sealed the win. Max Tramontana and Ethan Wilson combined to close out the final six outs.
Despite the setback, App State remains alive in the tournament and will meet an elimination game on Thursday, facing the loser of the Louisiana and No. 24 Coastal Carolina matchup. The team hopes to rally behind a pitching staff that limited opponents to just six hits while leaving the door open for a comeback.