University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
UNC Asheville
2-4
Mercer
5-2
UNC Asheville Drops Doubleheader at Mercer
02.24.2018 | Baseball
MACON, Ga. – The UNC Asheville baseball team fell in both games at Mercer on Saturday, 9-2 and 5-4, at OrthoGeorgia Park.
It was the first time since the 2016 season the Bulldogs have been swept in a series.
BULLDOG BITES
Game One Highlights
The Bulldogs kept putting the pressure on their opponents in the first inning, as they tallied one run off two hits to start the doubleheader. Carmine Pagano ripped a double down the left field line, and with two outs, Brandon Lankford traded places with him with a double of his own.
The Bears took advantage of two errors, as they knotted the game back at 1-1.
The Bulldogs quickly retaliated in the top of the second, as Danny Wilson started the inning with a hit-by-pitch. Tyler Serricchio posted a single to put two on with no outs, and Joe Zayatz scored Wilson from second following a throwing error by Mercer.
UNC Asheville starting pitcher Greg Gasparro started to find a groove in the second and third innings, as he posted two strikeouts and didn't surrender a hit.
The Bulldogs couldn't capitalize offensively from the second to fourth innings, as they were held hitless.
Mercer earned its first lead of the game (3-2) with a two-run homer in the fourth, and the Bears extended their lead by two with their fourth hit of the inning.
From the fifth to seventh innings, UNC Asheville had a batter reach base in all three innings, but it couldn't capitalize, as it combined to leave four baserunners stranded.
In the bottom of the sixth for Mercer, Trey Truitt led off the frame with a solo home run to extend the Mercer lead to 5-2.
The Bears tacked on three more runs in the eighth to make it 9-2.
Kole Harris and Joe Gruszka tried to mount a comeback in the final inning for UNC Asheville, as they each cracked a single, but they were left stranded, which gave Mercer the 9-2 victory in the first game of the doubleheader.
Three Bulldogs - Gruszka, Pagano and Harris - posted multi-hit performances, as they each totaled a pair of hits. Lankford recorded an extra-base hit and tallied the only RBI of the game for the Bulldogs.
Hunter Burnette posted a strong performance out of the bullpen. He twirled two innings where he allowed one run, while striking out three.
Game Two Highlights
Again, the Bulldogs scored in the first inning, as Gruszka and Pagano knocked back-to-back singles to start the game. Chris Troost hit into a 4-6-3 double play, but Gruszka was able to scamper home to plate the game's first run.
The Bears answered in the bottom half, as three players knocked a trio of hits in the frame.
Both teams went quietly in the second frame, but in the top of the third, UNC Asheville posted a two-run inning with both runs coming with two outs. Troost roped a double to left field, and following a Lankford walk and a Jake Madole hit-by-pitch, Serricchio poked a single up the middle to score two runs for Asheville. With the two RBI single, Asheville held a 3-1 lead.
In the bottom of the fourth, Mercer tried to start a surge with two outs as well, but UNC Asheville starting pitcher and reigning Big South Conference Starting Pitcher of the Week Jordan Carr forced Jackson Ware to pop out to leave two Bears stranded.
Despite both teams having a chance to plate runs in the fourth inning, the two squads left a pair of runners on base.
UNC Asheville started the fifth inning with back-to-back base hits from Troost and Lankford to put two Bulldogs on base. The pair moved up 90 feet after a wild pitch, and Madole took advantage with a sacrifice fly. After a pitching change, Serricchio was hit by a pitch, and Jake Catalano earned a six-pitch walk to force the bases loaded. However, the Mercer reliever struck out the final batter to leave three Bulldogs stranded.
Mercer's offense was held in-check in the fifth and sixth innings, as the Bears were held off the board.
In the seventh frame, the Bears struck for four runs to give them their first lead of the game at 5-4. Le Bassett gave Mercer its lead with a three-run homer with two outs in the inning.
In the top of the eighth, Catalano tried to start a one-out rally, as he tallied his first collegiate hit which was a double. The Bulldogs couldn't plate him, despite the freshman being in scoring position.
Eric Whitecavage worked a 1-2-3 inning in the home-half of the eighth, which gave Asheville one last chance to take the lead. However, the four Bulldogs that recorded a plate appearance couldn't plate the tying or go-ahead run.
Troost posted a two-hit game, while the 1-2-3 hitters (Gruszka, Pagano and Troost) combined for four hits and three runs scored. Serricchio tallied a two-RBI single, and Catalano collected his first collegiate hit.
Carr twirled five innings, while scattering five hits. He allowed one run and struck out three batters.
As a team, UNC Asheville left 10 baserunners stranded to Mercer's seven.
With the two losses on Saturday, UNC Asheville falls to 2-5 on the year, while Mercer moves to 6-2 overall.
What's Next?
The Bulldogs look to rebound on Wednesday, Feb. 28, as they travel to Mountain Rival Western Carolina. First pitch is slated for 4 p.m. in Cullowhee, N.C.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Sawyer Gipson-Long (1-0)
L: Whitecavage, Eric (0-1)
S: Nick Spear (1)
Batting:
2B: Troost, Chris 1 ; Catalano, Jake 1
RBI: Madole, Jake 1 ; Serricchio, Tyler 2
SF: Madole, Jake 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Gruszka, Joe 1 ; Troost, Chris 2 ; Lankford, Brandon 1
SB: Catalano, Jake 1
CS: Serricchio, Tyler 1
HBP: Lankford, Brandon 1 ; Madole, Jake 1 ; Serricchio, Tyler 1
Batting:
HR: Le Bassett 1
RBI: Alex Hanson 1 ; Brandon Michie 1 ; Le Bassett 3
Base Running:
RUNS: Trey Truitt 1 ; Alex Hanson 1 ; JT Thomas 1 ; Le Bassett 1 ; RJ Yeager 1
SB: Alex Hanson 2
