University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
Baseball Ready for New Season, Opening Game Friday Afternoon
02.18.2016 | Baseball
THE SERIES
Teams: Asheville (0-0, 0-0 BSC)
Ohio (0-0, 0-0 MAC)
Location: Greenwood Field / Asheville, N.C.
Times: 3:00 p.m. Friday / 2:00 p.m. Saturday / 1:00 p.m. Sunday
ASHEVILLE, N.C. – The 2016 UNC Asheville baseball team takes the field for the first time this spring as the Bulldogs welcome Ohio University to town for a three-game weekend series as both teams pop the lid on their 2016 campaigns.
For Asheville, the Bulldogs lost seven seniors to graduation but return the majority of their pitching staff and offensive lineup. Ohio, who opens the season on an 11-game southern road swing, finished with 36 wins last season – a 25-win improvement over 2014 – on their way to winning the MAC Championship.
NOTABLES
The Bench isn't Bare: Asheville returns 20 players from last season's 21-34 team, including five returning starters. On the mound, the Bulldogs have 11 arms remaining on staff, while 11 newcomers will wear the Blue and White for the first time this spring.
Tietjen Named to College Sports Madness Preseason Team: Junior Joe Tietjen has been named to College Sports Madness' 2016 Big South Preseason All-Conference Second Team, the publication announced in January. Tietjen was one of 24 total players, and six outfielders, named to the preseason team after he led the Bulldogs in runs scored and doubles and was top-five in batting average, slugging percentage, on base percentage and total RBI last season, starting all 54 games.
THE ROTATION
Friday: Joe Zayatz (Jr. LHP - 3-7, 4.75 ERA/2015) vs. Gerry Salisbury (RSo. LHP – redshirted 2015)
Saturday: Jordan Fulbright (So. LHP – 5-2, 5.55 ERA/2015) vs. Jake Rudnicki (Jr. RHP - 3-5, 3.91 ERA/2015)
Sunday: Jordan Carr (Fr. LHP) vs. Connor Sitz (Sr. RHP - 7-2, 4.62 ERA/2015)
SEASON OUTLOOK WITH HEAD COACH SCOTT FRIEDHOLM
The 2015 season was one of change. It was Scott Friedholm's first as the head man, and it began a change in the culture surrounding the baseball program. Last season's squad finished with a 21-34 record, an eight win improvement over 2014, and a vast majority of the pieces from last season remain intact this spring.
“I think the biggest thing we took away from year one was changing the culture, understanding what we needed to get better at and understanding our strengths and weaknesses,” Friedholm stated. “As we continue to move forward we now know what it takes to compete in the Big South. We obviously need to get better on the mound. I think offensively we are going to be fine, but the way that we are going to build this program is through pitching and defense.”
Gone are the likes of Tommy Houmard, Hunter Bryant and Kyle Towles in the middle of the lineup, but the Bulldogs have a core of returning bats that cut its teeth last spring. Joe Tietjen is Asheville's top offensive player returning this season having notched a .302 batting average last spring, tallying 31 RBIs, 14 doubles, three triples and four home runs. Tiejen's batting average climbed to .314 in 24 conference games last season.
“Last year it wasn't just Tommy and Hunter. Obviously they had great years. Towles was the guy who held us together last year and was a sparkplug for us. You have guys like Tietjen, Justin Woods, Derek Smith, Erik Connolly, Pete Guy – all guys who got a lot of experience last year,” said Friedholm.
“Those type guys we are going to lean on this year. I think with the success, and the struggles, they had last year it is only going to help them in their growth. So when a younger guy does go through the same things, he can ask those players 'What did you do?'”
Friedholm says that the offense will look primarily the same this season, and while there may not be a singular bat that can produce 12 home runs like Bryant last year, multiple guys will share the load.
“I think we are going to have five or six guys who can each have four to five homers to collectively replace (the big bat). Our job offensively is to create scoring opportunities and I think we do a good job of that. Our on-base percentage is very good. We aren't afraid to take our walks.”
The Bulldogs also have more team speed this season, and Friedholm expects to be able to take advantage of situations where baserunners can go from first to third base or score from second base on a hit.
On the mound, the big name loss was closer Nick Schavone, someone Friedholm said they “could rely on last year” and that the closer role is “wide open” heading into opening weekend.
“The majority of the pitching staff is back, which is good and bad. Hopefully the year under their belt will help them make the next step as well. They have had their successes and failures. We now know where the older guys have their success and we want to put them in those situations to succeed. Guys like Tyler Hughes, Corey Randall, Lucas Clarke and Adam Spracklin are going to have to expand on their roles and we'll put them in tighter spots this year.”
Year two for Friedholm and his staff also means being able to now integrate their recruiting classes on the field and in the lineup. Asheville welcomes 11 freshmen to the roster, all of which have a chance to compete this year.
“I think some (freshmen) will be starting opening weekend for us. It will be frustrating for some people, since they are young and there's a learning curve. Sometimes in order to take that step forward you have to take a step back and we understand that is part of the process. The nice thing is the guys that were already here have gone through this process already so they have been able to help the freshmen along.”
Along with a young team changing its culture comes the task of doing so in the middle of the Big South Conference, which was one of five leagues nationally to have five teams each with 40 or more wins last spring – something Friedholm calls impressive, and also something the Bulldog staff can pitch to recruits.
“The Big South is a tough league. There are no weekends you can pencil in that you're going to win 2-of-3 or sweep. You can't do that and that's a credit to this league. The same teams are going to be there again – but everyone is getting better. That's the exciting part and it's what we sell to recruits – they are going to play in one of the best baseball conferences in the country.”
For an Asheville team picked to finish last in the Big South this spring, the Bulldogs don't have to look far to find some motivation.
“We see what the men's and women's basketball teams are doing and it inspires our guys to say 'Why not us?'”
The Bulldogs don't talk about wins and losses, Friedholm said, but the biggest thing for the team is to compete every day and give themselves a chance to win.
“I think last year we had some highs and lows and we are trying to change that. These younger guys have done a great job of buying in and the older guys have done a tremendous job of leading,” Friedholm stated.
“When you are invested in something, you care about it a little more and you want to leave a lasting impression on the program. These seniors want to leave their mark. It's not always about wins and losses but how this program will move forward in years to come.”
