UNC Asheville Baseball Set to Host App State on Wednesday at McCormick Field

ASHEVILLE, N.C. - The UNC Asheville baseball team gets back in action tonight with a double-header at East Tennessee and then starts a four-game homestand on Wednesday with a McCormick Field matinee against Appalachian State starting at 1 p.m.

Wednesday's game with ASU can be heard via audio-streaming at www.uncabulldogs.com.

The Bulldogs (12-29, 5-16 BSC) have been off for the past nine days due to exams. Asheville is anxious to play again.

"Our guys have worked hard in their exams and now we want to end the season strong," stated first-year coach Tom Smith. "Our goal is to get into the Big South Conference Baseball Tournament, and we've got some work to do to make that happen."

The Bulldogs have tough tests today against a hard-hitting ETSU squad and face an Appalachian State team that is 33-11-1.

"Things don't get any easier for us with the teams we're playing this week," admitted Smith. "ETSU is one of the top teams in the Atlantic Sun Conference. Appalachian State has only lost one non-conference game."

Asheville is hoping to build some momentum for this weekend's crucial Big South Conference series with Charleston Southern. The Bulldogs and Buccaneers (17-29, 6-14) are battling for a berth in the Big South Tournament to be held later in the month at Winthrop. The top eight teams go to the league tournament with CSU currently in eighth place and the Bulldogs in ninth place.

NOTING THE BULLDOGS

1. UNC Asheville is just 3-9 at home this year and 0-6 at McCormick Field.

2. Senior Justin Schumer will carry a seven-game hitting streak into Tuesday's action at ETSU. He is now leading the Bulldogs in hitting (.363), home runs (6), RBI (29), doubles (13) and hits (53).

3. Freshmen Ian Graham and Robert McIntosh are second and third on the club in hitting. Graham has a .345 average, while McIntosh is hitting .317.

4. UNC Asheville has five saves by four different players. McIntosh has two saves to lead the club, while Ryan Dull, Justin Schumer and Taylor Wohlwend have one each.

5. The Bulldogs have more wins (12) than they did last season (9). They also have more road wins (8) than they did all of last year (3).

6. The Big South Conference is just 1-9 against Southern Conference power College of Charleston this season. The one win comes from UNC Asheville as the Bulldogs battered the Cougars 18-8 on Feb. 26.