University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
Friday, February 23
Macon, GA
6:00 PM
UNC Asheville
at
Mercer
UNC Asheville Returns to the Diamond with Weekend Road Series at Mercer
02.22.2018 | Baseball
2018 Baseball Media Guide
ASHEVILLE, N.C. – With only one day of rest, the UNC Asheville baseball team returns to the diamond on Friday, Feb. 23, as the Bulldogs begin a three-game series versus Mercer in Macon, Ga.
Series Rotation
Friday: Sr. LHP Jordan Fulbright (0-1, 5.79 ERA) vs. So. LHP Austin Cox (1-0, 9.00 ERA)
Saturday: So. LHP Greg Gasparro (0-0, 1.80 ERA) vs. Sr. RHP Chase Burks (0-0, 5.40 ERA)
Sunday: R-So. LHP Jordan Carr (1-0, 1.69 ERA) vs. Jr. RHP Kevin Coulter (0-1, 6.75 ERA)
Last Time Out
On Wednesday in Spartanburg, S.C., the Bulldogs used early offense and a strong bullpen to route Wofford, 10-4, at Russell C. King Field.
UNC Asheville scored eight of its 10 runs in the first two innings. Six of its runs came in the third frame thanks to home runs from Carmine Pagano and Kole Harris. Brandon Lankford was the third Bulldog to tally a homer in the contest, as the Bulldogs had four multi-hit performances from Pagano, Lankford, Jake Madole and Danny Wilson.
The Bulldogs used six relievers on Wednesday, and they combined to go seven innings, while allowing just one hit and no runs. Hunter Burnette, who made his collegiate debut, tossed two innings and recorded his career win and first strikeout. Trey Jernigan also made his collegiate debut, as he held the Terriers off the scoreboard in an inning of work. Cody Wilson and Brandon Harris made their season debut, as they combined for four strikeouts.
Scouting the Bears
Mercer is also making a quick turnaround, as it is fresh off playing five games in six days. The Bears enter the weekend contest 3-2 overall, as they have played all of their games at home.
In their season opener, the Bears won the first two games of the season, as they claimed the series opener over Bethune-Cookman. After dropping the series finale to the Wildcats, Mercer won in walk-off fashion versus Florida A&M on Feb. 20, but the Rattlers split the series behind a 15-7 route Wednesday night at OrthoGeorgia Park.
Early in the season, Mercer has relied on its offense, as it averages 8.6 runs per game. Leading the squad in batting average is JT Thomas, who was a 2017 Perfect Game/Rawlings All-American Honorable Mention. This year he is hitting .409 with nine hits and five RBIs. Freshman infielder Le Bassett has been turning heads with his power, as he has contributed three home runs during to begin his rookie campaign. Outfielder Alex Hanson is the third Bear who is hitting over .300, as he is hitting .318. Hanson has tallied seven hits, which includes five extra-base hits. He has also flashed his speed, as he is a perfect 3-for-3 in stolen bases.
The Bears have experience on the mound, as they will send out two upperclassmen to start the final two games of the series versus the Bulldogs – Burks and Coulter. Along with experience from the starting rotation, Mercer has one of the strongest relievers in college baseball – Robert Broom. The junior submarine hurler was named to the 2017 National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NWCBA) Stopper of the Year Award Watch list last year. During the offseason, the Rising Fawn, Ga. native was named to the 2017 Cape Cod All-League Team after playing with the Brewster Whitecaps.
How To Follow the Series Live
Live stats for all three games will be available, and those links can be found below.
Mercer series game one live stats – LINK
Mercer series game two live stats – LINK
Mercer series game three live stats - LINK
ASHEVILLE, N.C. – With only one day of rest, the UNC Asheville baseball team returns to the diamond on Friday, Feb. 23, as the Bulldogs begin a three-game series versus Mercer in Macon, Ga.
Series Rotation
Friday: Sr. LHP Jordan Fulbright (0-1, 5.79 ERA) vs. So. LHP Austin Cox (1-0, 9.00 ERA)
Saturday: So. LHP Greg Gasparro (0-0, 1.80 ERA) vs. Sr. RHP Chase Burks (0-0, 5.40 ERA)
Sunday: R-So. LHP Jordan Carr (1-0, 1.69 ERA) vs. Jr. RHP Kevin Coulter (0-1, 6.75 ERA)
Last Time Out
On Wednesday in Spartanburg, S.C., the Bulldogs used early offense and a strong bullpen to route Wofford, 10-4, at Russell C. King Field.
UNC Asheville scored eight of its 10 runs in the first two innings. Six of its runs came in the third frame thanks to home runs from Carmine Pagano and Kole Harris. Brandon Lankford was the third Bulldog to tally a homer in the contest, as the Bulldogs had four multi-hit performances from Pagano, Lankford, Jake Madole and Danny Wilson.
The Bulldogs used six relievers on Wednesday, and they combined to go seven innings, while allowing just one hit and no runs. Hunter Burnette, who made his collegiate debut, tossed two innings and recorded his career win and first strikeout. Trey Jernigan also made his collegiate debut, as he held the Terriers off the scoreboard in an inning of work. Cody Wilson and Brandon Harris made their season debut, as they combined for four strikeouts.
Scouting the Bears
Mercer is also making a quick turnaround, as it is fresh off playing five games in six days. The Bears enter the weekend contest 3-2 overall, as they have played all of their games at home.
In their season opener, the Bears won the first two games of the season, as they claimed the series opener over Bethune-Cookman. After dropping the series finale to the Wildcats, Mercer won in walk-off fashion versus Florida A&M on Feb. 20, but the Rattlers split the series behind a 15-7 route Wednesday night at OrthoGeorgia Park.
Early in the season, Mercer has relied on its offense, as it averages 8.6 runs per game. Leading the squad in batting average is JT Thomas, who was a 2017 Perfect Game/Rawlings All-American Honorable Mention. This year he is hitting .409 with nine hits and five RBIs. Freshman infielder Le Bassett has been turning heads with his power, as he has contributed three home runs during to begin his rookie campaign. Outfielder Alex Hanson is the third Bear who is hitting over .300, as he is hitting .318. Hanson has tallied seven hits, which includes five extra-base hits. He has also flashed his speed, as he is a perfect 3-for-3 in stolen bases.
The Bears have experience on the mound, as they will send out two upperclassmen to start the final two games of the series versus the Bulldogs – Burks and Coulter. Along with experience from the starting rotation, Mercer has one of the strongest relievers in college baseball – Robert Broom. The junior submarine hurler was named to the 2017 National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NWCBA) Stopper of the Year Award Watch list last year. During the offseason, the Rising Fawn, Ga. native was named to the 2017 Cape Cod All-League Team after playing with the Brewster Whitecaps.
How To Follow the Series Live
Live stats for all three games will be available, and those links can be found below.
Mercer series game one live stats – LINK
Mercer series game two live stats – LINK
Mercer series game three live stats - LINK
Players Mentioned
Right-Handed Pitcher
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Left-Handed Pitcher
/ Baseball
Left-Handed Pitcher
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Left-Handed Pitcher/Outfielder
/ Baseball
Right-Handed Pitcher
/ Baseball
Utility/Right-Handed Pitcher
/ Baseball
Right-Handed Pitcher
/ Baseball
Infielder
/ Baseball
Infielder
/ Baseball
Infielder
/ Baseball
Infielder/Right-Handed Pitcher
/ Baseball
Utility/Right-Handed Pitcher
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