ASU Set to Host Eastern Kentucky for a Mid-Week Set

After dropping the final two games in Statesboro and 4 of their last 5 contests, Appalachian (25-9, 10-5 SoCon) will send true freshman right hander Jamie Nunn to the hill as they look to recover from their first extended struggles of the 2012 season. Nunn has appeared in 10 games with 4 starts and has made the most of his playing time, posting a perfect 3-0 record and an impressive 1.67 ERA. In 27 innings pitched, he has notched 25 strikeouts to only 10 walks. Although he is a relatively inexperienced young pitcher, Jamie has proven to be reliable thus far and has the makings of a future weekend starter.

The Colonels (16-17, 8-4 OVC) will counter with junior RHP Chase Greene, who will be making his 4th start of the 2012 season in the opener of the 2 game mid-week series. In 15.2 innings pitched, Greene holds an 0-2 record, 10.54 ERA and a concerning ratio of 14 strikeouts to 12 walks. While the strikeout per inning figure is solid, he has struggled to keep men off base as batters are hitting .394 against him to go with the high walk total.

As a team, Eastern Kentucky's overall record is a bit misleading, as the Colonels enter Tuesday's match-up having won 9 of their last 11 ball games. Their wins have come against a light schedule of Jacksonville State (RPI #217), Marshall (202), SIU Edwardsville (148), Southeast Missouri State (232) and Eastern Illinois (190), but the Apps should fully expect a confident team to show up at Smith Stadium this evening.

In spite of the fact that the two clubs are currently trending in opposite directions, I like the Mountaineers to rebound and get back into the win column. ASU sports a 17-1 record at home this season and are 44-7 against non-conference competition since Smith Stadium opened in 2007. With the sting of a gut-wrenching loss to rival Georgia Southern fresh on their minds and an opposing pitcher who has struggled with his command, I expect the Mountaineers' offense to get back on track and provide Jamie Nunn with sufficient run support to remain perfect on the season and pick up his fourth career win.

Tonight's game has been moved forward 45 minutes in anticipation of rain hitting the High Country. First pitch will be at 5:15PM, with audio and video available here.

*Photo from GoASU.com