University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
Bulldogs Travel to ETSU Tonight
04.07.2015 | Baseball
JOHNSON CITY, TN – The UNC Asheville baseball team will bat first as the visitors for the ninth consecutive game tonight as they travel over the mountains to take on East Tennessee State University and continue their road trip tonight beginning at 6 p.m. from Thomas Stadium.
For the Bulldogs (15-17) tonight briefly wraps up a two-week road trip before they return home to Greenwood Field to battle Wofford College on Wednesday night, then head right back on the road for another seven-game road trip.
Tonight's matchup against the Buccaneers (12-18) will be the third meeting of the season, with Asheville winning the first two matchups this season – 3-2 in Spartanburg, S.C. in February and 8-6 at home last month.
Fans will have several ways to follow the action tonight. Live stats are available via this link, live audio can be heard through this link, and live video can be found through this link.
Both teams were swept on the road in non-conference play over the weekend, with the Bulldogs dropping three at UNC Wilmington and ETSU losing three to St. Louis.
Prior to last weekend's sweep, Asheville had won three straight and five of its last six, while ETSU comes in 1-9 in their last 10 games, including the series at St. Louis.
Four Bulldog batters are hitting over .300 – Joe Zayatz (.327), Joe Tietjen (.315), Hunter Bryant (.303) and Tommy Houmard (.300) – while Tietjen and Bryant have combined for eight of the team's 14 home runs as Bryant leads the club with five homers and a team-best 24 RBI.
The Bulldogs are 5-5 in 10 road games this season.
Freshman left-hander Spencer Orr (3-0) will get the start for Asheville tonight, coming off a win last start against Tennessee Tech last Tuesday. On the year, Orr has 4.91 ERA (12 ER/22.0 IP) in seven appearances (three starts).
Freshman right-hander Logan Gentry will make his first collegiate start for the ETSU. Gentry has a 7.00 ERA (7 ER/9.0 IP) in eight appearances this season.
The Bulldogs have won the last three meetings between the two teams, but ETSU lead the all-time series, 30-23.
BULLDOG NOTES
Asheville is 8-0 in mid-week games this year.
Tommy Houmard has reached base in 20 consecutive games.
Hunter Bryant is seventh in the Big South in home runs with five.
Nick Schavone is tied for second in the Big South in saves with six.
Lucas Clarke leads the Big South in starts with nine.
Asheville is 9-2 when scoring six or more runs this season.
The Bulldogs are jumping out in front early, outscoring opponents 52-29 in the opening two innings.
Asheville is 12-1 when leading after six innings this year.
