University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
UNC Asheville
Murray State
Bulldogs Win 15-11 in Baseball Opener
02.18.2011 | Baseball
The Bulldogs (1-0) were led the plate by seven different players who had at least two hits in the game. First baseman Robert McIntosh and third baseman Cody Buch had four hits each. Buch scored four runs on the day. Sophomore catcher Ian Graham went 3-for-4 with four RBI's. Second baseman Jordan Lurie went 3-for-4 with two RBI's.
Asheville scored in every inning but the second and overcame a 9-4 deficit as the Breds (0-1) scored nine times in the fourth inning to take a 9-4 lead. The Bulldogs scored twice in the bottom of the fourth and then took the lead for good in the fifth with five runs to lead 11-9.
Reliever Grier Harrington (1-0) earned the victory for the Bulldogs with some stellar relief work. He pitched the final five innings, allowing just two hits and two runs to allow Asheville to rally for the win.
"We believe we're going to be a much better hitting club this season and today was a great start for us," commented Asheville coach Tom Smith. "I really like the way our guys battled back after giving up nine runs in the fourth inning. We kept battling and got the job done.
"I can't say enough about the job Grier Harrington did for us," added Smith. "He allowed to rally and then was able to keep a good hitting team like Murray State at bay. This is a nice win but it's just the first game of the year and there are plenty of things we can be better at."
Asheville scored two runs in the first inning on bases loaded walks to lead 2-0. The Bulldogs tacked on two more runs in the third inning on Graham's two run double to push the lead to 4-0.
Murray State exploded for nine runs in the fourth inning off Asheville starter Ryan Dull to lead 9-4. The Breds sent 12 men to plate, had eight hits and took advantage of a Bulldog error. Brandon Elliott had two hits in the inning, a double and a run-scoring singles.
The Bulldogs scored twice in the bottom of the frame to cut the lead to 9-6. Asheville took the lead with five runs in the fifth to lead 11-9. Robert McIntosh had a key two-run double to tie the game at 9-9. Danny Baatz's RBI-single put the Bulldogs in front for good at 10-9. Grant Gajdosz's first of two doubles pushed lead to 11-9.
Asheville put the game away with four more runs to win its opening game for the second year in a row.
The teams will play the second game of their three-game series Saturday afternoon at 1 p.m.
