University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
UNC Asheville Baseball Heads to Radford
03.22.2012 | Baseball
ASHEVILLE, N.C. - Fresh off a thrilling extra-inning victory over its mountain rival, the UNC Asheville Bulldog baseball team heads to Radford for a Big South Conference series with the Highlanders at Dedmon Park starting Friday night at 6:30 p.m. The three-game set continues with a game Saturday at 4 p.m. and on Sunday at 2 p.m. All three games this weekend will be video-streamed and can be seen at www.uncabulldogs.com. Live stats will also be provided at www.ruhighlanders.com.
Asheville comes into Radford after a dramatic 3-1 walk-off victory over Western Carolina Wednesday at McCormick Field in 12 innings. Down 1-0 and down to its final out and strike, the Bulldogs got a clutch hit from Hunter Bryant, followed by Cody Buch reaching on an error to put runners on first and second. Pinch-hitter Patrick Koontz then hit a towering three-run homer over the right-field wall to give Asheville the comeback victory.
"Wednesday was a great win for our program and UNC Asheville," commented third-year coach Tom Smith. "We had great at-bat from Hunter Bryant to keep us alive. Cody Buch hustled down the line to reach first base. Patrick Koontz was ready when called upon.
"However, an unsung hero in that game was our pitching," added Smith. "We used 10 pitchers and to hold a team as good as Western Carolina to just one run over 12 innings is a testament to Coach Rembert and our staff. We've really improved on the mound this year and that was shown last night."
The Bulldogs (12-10, 3-0 BSC) start an eight-game road trip at Radford this weekend. Asheville faces a Highlander (11-10) team that has really owned them the past three years. RU has won nine straight over the Bulldogs, including a three-game sweep last year in Asheville. The Highlanders outscored the Dogs, 25-5 last year in the three games.
"Radford took it to us pretty good last season," commented Smith. "We had a hard time containing their bats, and they just beat us every way they could. We believe we're a better team than we were last season, and hopefully we can prove that this weekend."
Senior Ryan Dull (2-2, 2.48 ERA) is scheduled to take the mound on Friday. Jordan Lurie continues to lead Asheville in hitting with a .368 average. Bryant is right behind him with a .366 mark. Billy Creighton tops the Bulldogs in home runs (3) and RBI (22).
BULLDOG NOTES
UNC Asheville has never started Big South Conference play at 4-0.
The Bulldogs have lost nine straight games to Radford, but Asheville has had success at Dedmon Park over the years. RU's sweep in 2010 was the first sweep by the Highlanders over the Dogs at Radford since the 1990 season. The Bulldogs won series from RU at Dedmon Park in 1998, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2006 and 2008 as they went 15-3.
Asheville is 6-0 this season when it hits a home run in a game.
The Bulldogs are 12-0 when leading or tied after six innings.
Ryan Dull's 34 strikeouts are second in the Big South Conference in that category.
Asheville is three wins away (12) from matching last year's win total of 15.
The Bulldogs' ERA is 3.75 and opponents are hitting .256 against Asheville pitching. Last year, teams hit .312 and the Dogs' ERA was 6.38.
Asheville is 1-1 in night games this year.
The Bulldogs are 2-0 in extra innings this season and both have occurred in the last week.
Asheville has won five of its last six games.
The Bulldogs are 4-5 in road games this year.
Ian Graham and Eli Miller will carry seven-game hitting streaks into Friday's game at Radford.
Asheville pitching has limited 11 opponents to three runs or less in a game this season.
