University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
UNC Asheville
Charleston Southern
Asheville Rallies Past Charleston Southern 4-3
05.15.2010 | Baseball
ASHEVILLE, N.C. - UNC Asheville scored two runs in the bottom of the ninth inning to rally past Charleston Southern, 4-3 in Big South Conference action at McCormick Field Saturday afternoon.
The win gave the Bulldogs (14-32, 7-16 BSC) a series victory over the Buccaneers at home for the first time since the 1994 season. CSU starter Tyler Thornburg (5-4) was the hard-luck loser for the Buccaneers, despite allowing just six hits and striking out 10. He tossed his second complete game of the year.
It was a memorable day for Asheville senior Justin Schumer. He pitched the first eight innings and allowed just three hits, striking out four and walking three. Schumer homered in the fourth inning to get the Bulldogs within a run at 3-2 and then scored the winning run in the bottom of the ninth. He was the only player on either team to record two hits. In addition, Schumer graduated earlier in the day.
Trailing 3-2 entering the bottom of the ninth inning, Danny Baatz opened the inning with an infield single. Schumer singled to left to put Baatz on second. Mike Vaughn followed with a single to left to load the bases with nobody out.
Freshman Robert McIntosh hit a slow roller to short that the Buccaneers were able to get an out at second but not before Baatz scored to tie the game at 3-3. With runners on first and third, McIntosh advanced to second on defensive indifference. Ian Graham was then walked intentionally to load the bases.
The Bulldogs sent up pinch-hitter C.A. Clayton. Thornburg threw a first-pitch strike but then threw four straight balls to walk in the winning run and give Asheville the dramatic victory.
The win went to reliever Drew Spear (3-4) who pitched a scoreless ninth for the Bulldogs.
CSU took advantage of some wildness by Schumer in the second inning to jump out in front. After getting the first two outs of the inning, Schumer walked the next three hitters, all on 3-2 counts. Facing catcher Drew Woodall, he got another 3-2 count. Woodall sent a 3-2 pitch off the left-field wall to score three runs and put the Buccaneers in front, 3-0.
The Bulldogs got on the board in the third inning. With two outs, Jordan Lurie singled for the first hit of the game. He stole second, went to third on a balk. Thornburg then uncorked a wild pitch to score Lurie to cut the lead to 3-1.
Asheville got closer in the fourth when Schumer hit a solo home run over the left-field to make it 3-2. It was Schumer's team-leading seventh home run of the season.
The teams will play the final game of their three-game series Sunday afternoon at McCormick Field starting at 1 p.m.
