University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
Bulldogs and Lancers Open Up Series with Two on Friday
04.24.2015 | Baseball
ASHEVILLE, N.C. - After returning home on Tuesday following a seven-game road swing, the UNC Asheville baseball team will host its first home conference series in over a month when the Bulldogs welcome the Longwood Lancers to Greenwood Field for a three-game set beginning on Friday.
Asheville and Longwood will play a twin bill on Friday due to the threat of rain in the area over the weekend. Game one will start at 2:30 p.m., and the second game is slated to start at 6:00 p.m.
Both games came be followed via live stats, while game two of the day can be viewed on the Big South Network.
The Bulldogs (17-24, 3-12 Big South) are coming off of their highest scoring outburst of the year, plating 17 runs on Tuesday evening against North Carolina Central. The 22 hits out of the Asheville lineup is the most this season, and the most hits in a game since May 22, 2010 against Gardner-Webb.
Longwood (17-22, 5-10 BSC) has dropped four of its last five games against in-state rivals VCU, Liberty and No. 20 Virginia. Their most recent game was a 14-6 loss at Virginia on Tuesday.
The Blue & White are currently 7-12 at home this season, and just 1-5 in league games. Last weekend the Bulldogs were swept by Winthrop in a three-game set in Rock Hill, while the Lancers enter the weekend series after dropping two-of-three against Liberty.
Right-hander Joe Zayatz will get the call for Asheville in game one on Friday, entering the game with a 1-6 record and a 4.48 ERA. Freshman left-hander Jordan Fulbright will get the call in Friday's second game. Fulbright is currently 4-1 on the year with a 4.07 ERA. The Asheville coaching staff is currently undecided on its game three starter.
Senior right-hander Aaron Myers will get the call for the Lancers in game one of the series. Myers enters this weekend's action with a 3-7 record in 10 starts and a 3.82 ERA. Lefty Brandon Vick (2-5, 6.84 ERA) will take the ball in game two, and right-hander Travis Burnette (2-2, 5.14 ERA) will close out the series on the hill for Longwood.
The Bulldogs are currently hitting .249 as a team with a 6.03 team ERA. Hunter Bryant leads the team with a .329 batting average, and Tommy Houmard ranks second with a .321 average. The two seniors have combined for 102 hits in the middle of the lineup for head coach Scott Friedholm.
Longwood is looking for its first road series win this season. Lancer batters are hitting .268 for the year and are led at the plate by Connar Bastaich's .325 batting average. Kyri Washington's eight homeruns ranks fifth in the Big South.
Bulldog Notes
Hunter Bryant is tied for third in the Big South in home runs with nine.
Hunter Bryant has reached base in 20 consecutive games for Asheville.
Nick Schavone is tied for third in the Big South in saves with seven.
Schavone has the sixth-most appearances in the Big South with 20.
Lucas Clarke leads the Big South in starts with 11.
Asheville is 11-4 when scoring six or more runs this season.
The Bulldogs are 11-1 when out-hitting their opponents this season.
