University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
Bulldog Baseball Set to Face USC Upstate at McCormick Field
04.13.2010 | Baseball
Wednesday's game is also the first of seven double-headers with the Class A Asheville Tourists. The Tourists face the Hickory Crawdads at 7:05 p.m.
The Bulldogs (11-17) hope to build on the momentum of last weekend's three-game sweep at Presbyterian College. Asheville earned its first road sweep in league play in four years as the Bulldogs improved to 5-7 in Big South Conference play.
This is the second of two meetings with the Spartans this season. USC Upstate edged the Dogs, 4-3 back on March 30 in Spartanburg.
"We played pretty good baseball this weekend at Presbyterian," commented Asheville head coach Tom Smith. "We pitched very well during the series and what was most pleasing is that we found a way to win two close games. We've lost our share of close games this year but last weekend we got the job done.
"Our guys need to build on what we did at Presbyterian," added Smith. "US C Upstate is a scrappy team that beat us earlier in the year."
Asheville's starting pitching dominated the series against the Blue Hose. The Bulldog starters only gave up three runs in three games.
The Bulldogs stay at McCormick Field this weekend with a key league series vs. Winthrop. Asheville takes on the Eagles Friday at 3 p.m., Saturday at 2 p.m. and Sunday at 1 p.m. Sunday's game was originally scheduled for 2 p.m. but has been moved back to 1 p.m.
Freshman catcher Ian Graham continues to lead the Bulldogs in hitting this year as he'll bring a .361 average into Tuesday's game. Danny Baatz tops the club in RBI with 20. Justin Schumer leads the Dogs in homers with four and is second in RBI with 19.
