University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
Bulldog Baseball Travels to High Point This Weekend
05.03.2012 | Baseball
ASHEVILLE, N.C. - The UNC Asheville baseball team is finished with exams and ready to start playing again as the Bulldogs head to High Point for a crucial three-game Big South Conference series with the Panthers starting Friday night at 6 p.m. Saturday's game will be at 6 p.m., followed by Sunday's contest at 1 p.m. All three games will be video-streamed at www.uncabulldogs.com.
Asheville (8-10, 19-23) is looking to win a game at High Point for the first time since the 2006 season. The Bulldogs have lost eight straight games at Willard Stadium, including sweeps in 2008 and 2010. The Panthers have a 23-21 overall record and 8-7 worksheet in the Big South.
Asheville has not played since April 24th when the Bulldogs dropped a 9-4 decision to Wofford at Greenwood Field. Asheville's last BSC series came the weekend of April 20-22 as the Bulldogs took two of three from Liberty.
"We need to build on that Liberty series this weekend at High Point," commented Bulldog coach Tom Smith. "High Point has a very good team that really hits the ball well and is tough to beat at home. We're going to have to be solid in all phases of the game."
Asheville plans to start sophomore right-hander Dean Roland (4-4, 3.75 ERA) on Friday night, followed by senior right-hander Ryan Dull (3-4, 3.56 ERA) Saturday night. Junior left-hander Drew Spear (2-3, 5.40 ERA) is scheduled to start Sunday's finale.
The Bulldogs top three hitters are freshmen in Aaron Wright (.333), Hunter Bryant (.316) and Thomas Bess (.305).
BULLDOG NOTES
Ryan Dull leads the Big South Conference in strikeouts with 65. He is fourth all-time at Asheville in strikeouts with 219 and needs just three to move into third place, past Steven Cook (221). In addition, Ryan is tied for fourth all-time in complete games with nine with Rob Masse. His 15 career victories have him tied for fifth place with Judson Ballard and Jamon Deal.
In six conference starts, Dean Roland has a 2.56 ERA and 1-2 record. He tossed 10 shutout innings at Radford on March 24 but the Bulldogs lost in 14 innings, 2-1.
Asheville is just 5-26 on the road in Big South Conference games over the past two seasons and is 2-7 this year. The Bulldogs have not won a league road series since sweeping Presbyterian College, April 9-11 in 2010.
Cody Buch enters Friday's action with a five-game hitting streak and has reached base in 10 consecutive games.
High Point is 22-20 all-time vs. UNC Asheville in a series that began in the 1999 season. The Bulldogs won a regular-season series from the Panthers for the first time since the 2004 season when Asheville took two of three contests at Greenwood Field. However, the Dogs would never win another game as Asheville lost its last 17 games of the season. The Bulldogs last series win at High Point came in 2004 when they took two of three games. The Panthers are 17-4 against Asheville in regular-season play since 2005 but the Bulldogs are 3-0 against High Point in Big South Tournament play winning elimination games in 2006, 2007 and 2008.
Asheville is 5-5 in one-run games and 4-3 in two-run contests this season.
Bulldog pitching has produced three shutouts this season and ERA is at 4.50, compared to last year's 6.38 mark.
Asheville is 11-3 when it homers in a game this year.
Thomas Bess and Jordan Lurie lead the Bulldogs in stolen bases with nine.
