University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
UNC Asheville
Radford
Bulldogs Drop Doubleheader Thursday at Radford
05.19.2016 | Baseball
THE RUNDOWN
Scores: Radford 6 – Asheville 1 (G1)
Radford 8 – Asheville 3 (G2)
Teams: Asheville (16-37, 5-18 BSC)
Radford (16-37, 8-15 BSC)
Location: RU Baseball Stadium / Radford, VA
RADFORD, VA – A pair of big innings ended UNC Asheville's quest for a berth in the Big South Conference Tournament, as Radford grabbed a 6-1 victory in the opening game and an 8-3 win in the second game of the teams' doubleheader on Thursday afternoon.
The Bulldogs, who entered the weekend series one game back of Radford for the final spot in the tournament, are now mathematically eliminated from next week's tournament.
THE TURNING POINT
A scoreless game into the fourth inning of game one, Radford posted five runs to jump out to the lead before adding a sixth run in the fifth inning. The second game saw the hosts take a one run lead in the sixth before a four-run seventh inning provided the difference.
NOTABLES
-In the opener, the Bulldogs finished with nine hits – with six coming from three players as Lucas Owens, Justin Woods and Carmine Pagano each tallied two hits. Joe Tietjen drove in the only Asheville run of the opener. The second game had just four Asheville hits, including two for extra-bases – an Erik Connolly double and Tietjen's solo home run.
-No Bulldog finished with more than three hits (Pagano) across the two games as Asheville drew three total walks and left 12 combined men on base.
-Jordan Fulbright was saddled with the loss in game one after allowing five runs on six hits in 3 2/3 innings, while Jordan Carr took the tough luck loss in game two, allowing three runs on six hits over 5 2/3 innings.
-Pete Guy finished a combined 0-for-8 across the doubleheader and did not reach base, as his program-best on-base streak ended at 36 consecutive games.
-The first game saw Radford post five runs on five hits and a Bulldog error in the fourth inning to take a lead it would not surrender, highlighted by a pair of RBI doubles and a run-scoring triple. The hosts added to the lead with a solo home run in the bottom of the fifth before Asheville's lone run came in the top of the sixth on Tietjen's RBI single up the middle.
-The Bulldogs had a couple chances in their final three at-bats, stranding two runners in the seventh and one runner in both the eighth and ninth frames.
-Game two saw Asheville jump ahead in the top of the third inning when Connolly opened the inning with his double before scoring moments later on a Radford throwing error. The hosts responded in the bottom of the third, plating two runs – first on a balk before a sacrifice fly gave Radford the lead.
-The Bulldogs tied the game in the top of the fourth on Tietjen's no doubt solo home run to left field before Radford took the lead for good in the bottom of the sixth with a two-out RBI single. Asheville got out of the jam, however, leaving the bases loaded and avoiding more damage.
-Radford added to its lead with the four-run seventh inning, plating the first two runs of the frame via an Asheville error before an RBI single and run-scoring double. The final Radford run came via an RBI single in the bottom of the eighth.
-Asheville used a Danny Wilson RBI single to plate Tietjen, who was earlier hit by a pitch, in the ninth, but that would be all the visitors would be able to cut into the final deficit.
UP NEXT
-Following today's losses, Asheville and Radford are scheduled to wrap up the series Friday afternoon with a 1:00 p.m. first pitch.
