University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
UNC Asheville
USC Upstate
Bulldogs Falter Late Against USC Upstate
05.06.2015 | Baseball
ASHEVILLE, N.C. – The UNC Asheville baseball team surrendered an early three run lead and saw visiting USC Upstate score five runs over the sixth and seventh innings to down the Bulldogs 5-3 at Greenwood Field.
The Bulldogs (20-28) finished with just five hits compared to the Spartans (15-31) 13 total hits.
Pete Guy was the only Asheville batter with multiple hits, finishing with two hits and an RBI, while the hosts also received hits from Tommy Houmard, Hunter Bryant and Kyle Towles in the loss.
Bulldog starter Spencer Orr did not factor in the decision, exiting in a tie ballgame after tossing 5 2/3 innings and allowing eight hits along with the two runs. Reliever Ryan Tapp was saddled with the loss, allowing three runs in his one inning of work.
Asheville jumped ahead with two runs in the fourth inning, using an RBI single back up the middle by Guy to start the scoring before plating the second run on Towles' groundout later in the frame.
USC Upstate knotted things up in the top of the sixth, using an RBI double to left-center field followed by a RBI sacrifice fly to chase Orr from the game with a 2-2 score.
The Bulldogs momentarily regained the lead in the bottom of the sixth inning when Justin Woods drew a bases loaded walk to bring in Bryant, who had also walked earlier in the frame.
The visitors took the lead for good in the seventh, using three singles to load the bases before a walk brought in the go-ahead run. USC Upstate added two more runs via a fielder's choice ground ball and another single to extend their lead.
Asheville left two runners stranded to end the eighth inning and were sat down in order in the ninth to wrap things up.
The Bulldogs jump back into Big South Conference action on the road this weekend when they travel to take on High Point. Friday night's opening game is slated for a 6 p.m. first pitch.
