University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
Bulldog Baseball Travels to Wofford
03.28.2012 | Baseball
Asheville (12-13, 3-3 BSC) is coming off a frustrating weekend at Radford. The Bulldogs were downed by the Highlanders, 16-1, 9-0 and 2-1 in 14 innings on Sunday. The start of Sunday's game was delayed by seven hours by rain. Starter Dean Roland threw 10 scoreless innings against the hard-hitting Highlanders.
"Last weekend was a tough one for us to go through," admitted Asheville coach Tom Smith. "Radford really hit the ball well in the first two games and then we lost a real heart-breaker on Sunday.
"You're going to have ups and downs throughout a season," added Smith. "We had a great weekend against VMI two weeks ago and then a tough one at Radford this past one. Our guys need to bounce back this week and hopefully we will do so."
The Bulldogs face a Wofford (9-15, 0-6 SoCon) club that knocked off defending NCAA champion South Carolina last week, 5-4 in extra innings. The Terriers are coached by former Bulldog standout and assistant Sports Information Director Todd Interdonato.
The teams split road victories a year ago. Asheville downed Wofford in Spartanburg, 4-0 before the Terriers rallied past the Bulldogs at McCormick Field, 9-6.
Asheville will start sophomore right-hander Brian Connelly (2-2, 3.45 ERA) tonight. He threw six scoreless innings at Wofford last season.
The Bulldogs stay in the state of South Carolina this weekend as they'll travel to Presbyterian College starting Friday for a key Big South Conference series with the Blue Hose.
BULLDOG NOTES
UNC Asheville is 12-13 on the season and is just four wins away from moving past last year's win total (15).
Three of the Bulldogs last eight games have gone extra innings. Asheville is 2-1 in those games.
Asheville is 11-0 when leading after six innings and 8-0 after eight innings.
Bulldog pitching has record 160 strikeouts compared to 65 walks.
Asheville is 7-0 this season when it hits a home run in a game.
The Bulldogs are 1-3 in night games this season.
Jordan Lurie leads Asheville in hitting with a .355 average. Freshman Hunter Bryant is second with a 323 mark.
Wofford coach Todd Interdonato played for the Bulldogs in the 1999 and 2000 seasons. He played first base, third base, the outfield and pitched for Asheville. Todd was named Big South Player of the Week in 2000.
