University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
Saturday, February 17
Nashville, TN
5:00 PM
UNC Asheville
0-2
2
at
4
Lipscomb
2-0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
R
H
E
UNC Asheville
1
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
2
6
2
Lipscomb
0
1
0
0
1
1
0
1
X
4
5
3
Photo by: UNC Asheville
Gruszka Homers in UNC Asheville’s Narrow 4-2 Game Two Loss to Lipscomb
02.17.2018 | Baseball
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Joe Gruszka finished with two runs scored and a home run in UNC Asheville's narrow 4-2 game two loss to Lipscomb on Saturday, Feb. 17, at Dugan Field.
BULLDOG BITES
The game started off with fireworks with Gruszka leading off the game by homering down the right field line to give the Bulldogs a very early 1-0 advantage.
The home run was the first of the year and second of Gruszka's Bulldog career.
The Bulldogs would hold that 1-0 advantage until the bottom of the second inning when Lipscomb evened things up at 1-1 when Josh Martinez scored off a Tevin Symonette single up the middle.
UNC Asheville would match Lipscomb's run in the bottom half of the second with a run of their own in the top of the third inning.
Gruszka once again got things going for the Bulldogs in the inning when he was walked by Lipscomb starting pitcher Chris Kachmar. Gruszka was then moved over to second and in scoring position on a Carmine Pagano groundout. He then made his way to third after a Kachmar wild pitch.
Joe Zayatz took full advantage of having a runner on with just one out next when he singled to right field to bring home Gruszka for a 2-1 Bulldog lead. The RBI was the first of the year for Zayatz.
Lipscomb would then score single runs in the bottom of the fifth and sixth frames to take a 3-2 lead over UNC Asheville.
In the bottom of the seventh, the Bisons had a runner on with two outs, but Gruszka made sure they would not add a run in the inning when he gunned down Maddux Houghton trying to steal second.
The Bulldogs would threaten in the top of the eighth, but in the end it would be Lipscomb that would add another run in the final couple of innings to pick up the two-run win.
UNC Asheville freshman right-handed pitcher Beau Nichols (0-1) suffered the loss in his one inning of relief of starter Greg Gasparro. Nichols gave up one run, but struck out two.
Gasparro allowed just three hits in his five innings on the hill. He fanned seven.
Lipscomb reliever Erik Gutierrez (1-0) pitched one inning in relief of Kachmar to collect the win. Kyle Kemp dealt the ninth to pick up the save for the second consecutive day.
UNC Asheville overall out-hit the Bisons. 6-5, in the game with five different Bulldogs collecting a hit on the day.
Chris Troost led UNC Asheville at the dish with a 2-for-4 performance. Gruszka scored two runs and had an RBI on his leadoff home run.
Zeke Dodson was the only Bison with multiple hits in the game, as he was 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored.
What's Next?
UNC Asheville will close out its three-game season-opening regular season series with Lipscomb with a 2 p.m. EST game on Sunday, Feb. 18, in Nashville, Tenn.
BULLDOG BITES
The game started off with fireworks with Gruszka leading off the game by homering down the right field line to give the Bulldogs a very early 1-0 advantage.
The home run was the first of the year and second of Gruszka's Bulldog career.
The Bulldogs would hold that 1-0 advantage until the bottom of the second inning when Lipscomb evened things up at 1-1 when Josh Martinez scored off a Tevin Symonette single up the middle.
UNC Asheville would match Lipscomb's run in the bottom half of the second with a run of their own in the top of the third inning.
Gruszka once again got things going for the Bulldogs in the inning when he was walked by Lipscomb starting pitcher Chris Kachmar. Gruszka was then moved over to second and in scoring position on a Carmine Pagano groundout. He then made his way to third after a Kachmar wild pitch.
Joe Zayatz took full advantage of having a runner on with just one out next when he singled to right field to bring home Gruszka for a 2-1 Bulldog lead. The RBI was the first of the year for Zayatz.
Lipscomb would then score single runs in the bottom of the fifth and sixth frames to take a 3-2 lead over UNC Asheville.
In the bottom of the seventh, the Bisons had a runner on with two outs, but Gruszka made sure they would not add a run in the inning when he gunned down Maddux Houghton trying to steal second.
The Bulldogs would threaten in the top of the eighth, but in the end it would be Lipscomb that would add another run in the final couple of innings to pick up the two-run win.
UNC Asheville freshman right-handed pitcher Beau Nichols (0-1) suffered the loss in his one inning of relief of starter Greg Gasparro. Nichols gave up one run, but struck out two.
Gasparro allowed just three hits in his five innings on the hill. He fanned seven.
Lipscomb reliever Erik Gutierrez (1-0) pitched one inning in relief of Kachmar to collect the win. Kyle Kemp dealt the ninth to pick up the save for the second consecutive day.
UNC Asheville overall out-hit the Bisons. 6-5, in the game with five different Bulldogs collecting a hit on the day.
Chris Troost led UNC Asheville at the dish with a 2-for-4 performance. Gruszka scored two runs and had an RBI on his leadoff home run.
Zeke Dodson was the only Bison with multiple hits in the game, as he was 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored.
What's Next?
UNC Asheville will close out its three-game season-opening regular season series with Lipscomb with a 2 p.m. EST game on Sunday, Feb. 18, in Nashville, Tenn.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: GUTIERREZ, Erik (1-0)
L: Nichols, Beau (0-1)
S: KEMP, Kyle (2)
Batting:
2B: Troost, Chris 1
HR: Gruszka, Joe 1
RBI: Gruszka, Joe 1 ; Zayatz, Joe 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Gruszka, Joe 2
Batting:
2B: DODSON, Zeke 1
HR: DODSON, Zeke 1
RBI: DODSON, Zeke 1 ; SYMONETTE, Tevin 1 ; HOUGHTON, Maddux 1
Base Running:
RUNS: SORRELLS, Cade 1 ; DODSON, Zeke 1 ; MARTINEZ, Josh 1 ; THOMAS, Blake 1
SB: MARTINEZ, Josh 1 ; SYMONETTE, Tevin 1 ; THOMAS, Blake 1 ; HOUGHTON, Maddux 1
CS: SOLOMON, Lee 1 ; HOUGHTON, Maddux 1
HBP: PERRY, Jake 1
Game Leaders
AB
4
R
0
H
2
RBI
0
AB
4
R
2
H
1
RBI
1
AB
5
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
AB
4
R
0
H
1
RBI
1
Players Mentioned
Left-Handed Pitcher/Outfielder
/ BaseballCatcher/Utility
/ Baseball
Right-Handed Pitcher
/ BaseballInfielder
/ BaseballInfielder
/ BaseballRight-Handed Pitcher/Outfielder
/ BaseballHighlights || Baseball || UNC Asheville vs Presbyterian (Game 3)
Tuesday, May 28
Highlights || Baseball || UNC Asheville at Presbyterian (Game 2)
Tuesday, May 28
Highlights || Baseball || UNC Asheville at Presbyterian (Game 1)
Tuesday, May 28
Highlights || Baseball || UNC Asheville vs Gardner-Webb (Game 3)
Monday, May 13