University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
UNC Asheville
North Carolina Central
Bulldogs Split Saturday with N.C. Central
04.09.2016 | Baseball
THE RUNDOWN
Scores: Asheville 6 – N.C. Central 5 (Game 1)
N.C. Central 5 – Asheville 2 (Game 2)
Teams: Asheville (9-23, 2-7 BSC)
N.C. Central (16-18, 5-7 MEAC)
Location: Greenwood Field / Asheville, N.C.
ASHEVILLE, N.C. – Lucas Owens' pinch hit single lifted UNC Asheville to a 6-5 game one extra inning victory in Saturday's opener before North Carolina Central grabbed a 5-2 win in the night cap as the teams split a non-conference doubleheader on a chilly day in Asheville.
THE TURNING POINT
In the opener, the Bulldogs drew back-to-back one out walks in the bottom of the eighth to bring Owens to the plate. The hit came after Central plated three runs in the top of the seventh to send the game to extra innings. Game two saw the visitors also come from behind and use a three-run inning as the difference maker, this time in the sixth inning.
NOTABLES
-The first game saw Derek Smith and Pete Guy combine for five of the Bulldogs' 10 total hits, with Smith collecting three hits and Guy notching two hits while driving in two runs. Danny Wilson added a two-run double as well.
-In the nightcap, Asheville tallied five total hits from five players, all singles. Guy drew a walk to 38th walk of the season to keep pace at the top of the national category.
-Game one starter Jordan Fulbright did not factor into the decision after tossing six-plus innings, allowing four runs on eight hits and four strikeouts. Nick Boyles, the fourth Bulldog pitcher in game one, earned his first win of the season after striking out one batter and throwing a scoreless eighth inning.
-Game two starter Jordan Carr also went six innings, giving up four runs (two earned) on six hits and two walks as he was saddled with his sixth loss of the season.
-N.C. Central used a solo home run in the third inning and an RBI groundout in the fourth to take the lead in the opener before Asheville answered back with five runs on five hits in the sixth inning. In the sixth, the Bulldogs received back-to-back hits – a two-run single from Guy to tie the game and a two-run double from Wilson to take the lead. Asheville added a fifth run via an error later in the inning.
-The visitors plated three runs in the top of the seventh thanks to back-to-back doubles to begin the inning while a two-run single tied the game and sent it to extra innings.
-In extras, Kyle Carruthers and Kobos each drew walks to set up Owens' game-winning single back up the middle.
-The second game saw N.C. Central take an early lead again, this time via an RBI sacrifice fly in the top of the third before the Bulldogs responded with two runs in the bottom of the fourth inning when Kobos drove in a run with his double into left field and Andrew Friedholm followed with an RBI single later in the frame.
-The visitors posted three runs in the sixth, including taking the lead when a pair of runners took off with the bases loaded and a full count and scored on a fielder's choice ground ball. Central added a final run in the seventh via a solo home run.
UP NEXT
-Following today's games, the Bulldogs and N.C. Central wrap up the series tomorrow afternoon at 1:00 p.m. before Asheville remains at home for a Tuesday midweek contest against East Tennessee State. The Bulldogs step back into Big South action when they head to the South Carolina coast for a three-game weekend series at Charleston Southern next weekend.
