Bulldog Baseball Faces Mid-Week Games at North Carolina A&T & Tennessee

ASHEVILLE, N.C. - The UNC Asheville baseball team will play a pair of mid-week road games before getting back to Big South Conference play at Charleston Southern this weekend.

Tom Smith's club travels to North Carolina A&T Tuesday for a 3 p.m. game and then heads to Tennessee on Wednesday for a 7 p.m. contest.

The Bulldogs (8-14, 3-3 BSC) are coming off an emotional weekend as Asheville won a series from defending Big South Conference champion Coastal Carolina for the first time in eight years. The Dogs bounced back from a 13-2 loss on Friday to win 3-2 on Saturday and then edged the Chanticleers, 7-6 in 12 innings on Sunday.

The victory on Saturday snapped a 36-game Big South Conference winning streak for Coastal Carolina. It was a weekend to remember for the Bulldogs but only if Asheville builds on this success.

"I'm real proud of guys for battling like they did and gutting out two victories on Saturday and Sunday," commented Smith. "We got a lot of contributions from different guys and that's what it's going to take for us to be successful.

"Now we're very happy to get those two wins but it's a long season," added Smith. "We need to keep on winning or else those victories won't mean as much."

North Carolina A&T is 7-15 on the season and has a 1-1 record in the MEAC. The Aggies can really hit the ball and has posted a .301 average this year.

Tennessee is 18-6 overall and 2-4 in the Southeastern Conference. The Volunteers have won 10 consecutive non-conference games. UT is hitting .319 as a team and its pitching has already produced three shutouts on the season.

"We face two good opponents this week," explained Smith. "North Carolina A&T has played a tough schedule but has really hit the ball well against everyone.

"Tennessee has dominated its non-conference schedule and has an excellent team," added Smith. "We know how tough it is to win over there."

This weekend has the Bulldogs going to Big South foe Charleston Southern for a weekend series (April 1-3). The Buccaneers (14-11, 3-3 BSC) are coming off a three-game sweep of Radford last weekend.

BULLDOG NOTES

Asheville is 3-12 on the road this year. The Bulldogs have played 15 of their first 22 games away from home. Asheville does not play another home game until April 12 against Western Carolina at McCormick Field.

Asheville is 6-0 when leading after eight innings. The Bulldogs are 4-2 in one-run games.

Junior infielder Jordan Lurie leads Asheville in hitting with a .344 average.