University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
UNC Asheville
Presbyterian
Eighth Inning Rally Gives Bulldogs Friday Night Victory
04.01.2016 | Baseball
THE RUNDOWN
Score: Asheville 7 – Presbyterian 4
Teams: Asheville (6-20, 1-6 BSC)
Presbyterian (13-12, 1-3 BSC)
Location: Greenwood Field / Asheville, N.C.
Saturday: LIVE VIDEO (BIG SOUTH NETWORK) - LIVE STATS
ASHEVILLE, N.C. – UNC Asheville sent 10 men to the plate on the way to a five-run eighth inning as the Bulldogs opened their Big South Conference series with Presbyterian with a 7-4 victory on Friday night at Greenwood Field.
SATURDAY PROBABLES
Jordan Carr (Fr. LHP, AVL) vs. Tanner Chock (So. RHP, PC)
THE TURNING POINT
Trailing by two runs, four of Asheville's five hits in the eighth inning drove in runs, with Derek Smith's two-run single into right center field giving the Bulldogs their first lead of the night. Kyle Carruthers' RBI double earlier in the frame pulled Asheville within one, while Pete Guy followed up Smith's single with an RBI single of his own to give the Bulldogs breathing room.
NOTABLES
-Asheville finished with nine hits in the game, led by Guy and Carruthers, who each had two-hit nights. Smith, Guy and Carruthers each accounted for two RBIs, while Erik Connolly drove in the other Bulldog run.
-Bulldog starter Jordan Fulbright did not factor into the decision after exiting in a tie game, but gave Asheville seven solid innings, allowing two runs on five hits and striking out seven Presbyterian batters. Reliever Tyler Hughes earned his first win of the season with his one inning of work in the eighth frame, while Eric Whitecavage notched his first save of his collegiate career after closing out the ninth inning.
-Presbyterian struck first, using a one-out double and a safety squeeze in the top of the second inning to take a one run lead. Asheville had a chance to respond in the bottom of the second, but left the bases loaded to end the frame.
-The Bulldogs tied the game in the bottom of the fifth when Justin Woods led off with a single and scored three batters later on Guy's two-out double to deep center field. Presbyterian answered in the top of the sixth, using a leadoff double and a sacrifice fly to regain the lead momentarily, only to see Asheville re-tie the score in the bottom of the frame. In the sixth, Joe Tietjen opened the inning with a leadoff double and scored later in the frame when Carruthers reached on an error.
-The visitors posted two runs in the eighth inning, using back-to-back singles to begin the frame before a two-run double gave Presbyterian a 4-2 lead and set up the Asheville eighth inning.
-Asheville opened the bottom of the eighth with a groundout before Tietjen walked and Lucas Owens was hit by a pitch. Tietjen came in to score on Carruthers' RBI double while Owens scored three batters later on Connolly's two-out infield single to tie the game. Smith stepped in and drove in what turned out to be the winning runs with his two-run single before Guy's single down the right field line added a final insurance run.
-Presbyterian saw the leadoff baserunner reach via error in the top of the ninth, but he was picked off by Whitecavage moments later. The visitors went on to collect a two-out triple, but Whitcavage induced a groundout to end the night.
QUOTABLES FROM HEAD COACH SCOTT FRIEDHOLM
On the eighth inning – “The best part is we didn't change anything. We kept the same approach. Our guys were getting on base and we were putting good swings on the ball. Kyle Carruthers and Derek Smith came up with two huge hits for us to tie the game and take the lead. We wouldn't be in that position if it wasn't for Jordan Fulbright. We let him go over 100 pitches, which doesn't happen very often, but he did a great job and competed out there.”
On Jordan Fulbright going deep into the game – “It saves us. We end up using two guys out of the bullpen, but both guys only threw one inning and less than 20 pitches so they will be available tomorrow or Sunday for us.”
UP NEXT
-Following tonight's win, Asheville and Presbyterian continue the series Saturday with a 3:00 p.m. start before a 1:00 p.m. Sunday series finale.
