University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
Bulldog Baseball Hosts Coastal Carolina This Weekend
03.24.2011 | Baseball
ASHEVILLE, N.C. - The UNC Asheville baseball team is home this weekend as the Bulldogs host defending Big South Conference champion Coastal Carolina at Greenwood Field. The three-game series starts on Friday at 3 p.m. with a game on Saturday at 2 p.m., followed by Sunday's finale at 1 p.m. All three games are scheduled to be video-streamed and can be watched on-line at www.uncabulldogs.com for a small fee.
The Bulldogs (6-13, 1-2 BSC) face a tall order in the Chanticleers. Coastal Carolina (14-8) won a Regional last year and advanced to the Super Regional for the second time in three years in 2010. They lost two close games to South Carolina. All the Gamecocks did after that was win the national championship.
"When you talk about Coastal Carolina, you're talking about the team to beat in the Big South Conference," stated Asheville coach Tom Smith. "This is a program that thinks it can get to Omaha and make some noise once it gets there. We know we're going to have to be at our absolute best to have a chance this weekend.'
Asheville opened the season with four straight wins but found things a little tougher since then. The Bulldogs have been on the road for most of the year. Friday's game will be the first time Asheville has played a home game since March 3 vs. ETSU. Asheville has played its last 12 games away from home.
"We're getting a little better but just need to be a little more consistent," added Smith. "We're still a young team with a lot of freshmen and sophomores having to play a great deal. However, we want to win our share of games, as well."
Junior right-hander Ryan Dull, who was named Big South Pitcher of the Week on Monday after tossing seven scoreless innings against Gardner-Webb, will start Friday's first game. Dull is 1-2 with one save and a 5.40 ERA this year.
BULLDOG NOTES
UNC Asheville has lost 10 straight games to Coastal Carolina. The Bulldogs have not beaten the Chanticleers at Greenwood Field since the 1997 season. CCU swept a three-game series in 1999, a two-game set in 2001, winning once in 2003, taking two games in 2005 and winning twice in 2007. The Bulldogs won twice in 2003 and once in 2007 but the games occurred at McCormick Field. Asheville's last win came on May 11, 2007 at McCormick when the Bulldogs downed the Chanticleers, 5-3.
Asheville is 2-2 in one-run games this year.
The Bulldogs are 3-1 in home games this season.
Sophomore infielder Robert McIntosh is Asheville's top hitter with a .344 average. Junior infielder Jordan Lurie is right behind him with a .342 mark
