University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
UNC Asheville
3-11
Manhattan
4-9
UNC Asheville Downs Manhattan in Series Finale, 9-3
03.10.2018 | Baseball
ASHEVILLE, N.C. – In the series finale versus Manhattan, the UNC Asheville baseball team downed the Jaspers, 9-3, behind a quality start from Jordan Carr and 12 hits at Greenwood Field on Saturday.
BULLDOG BITES
Highlights
Both teams were held scoreless in the first and second frames. However, the Bulldogs had chances to score runs in both innings, but they stranded a pair of baserunners in each frame.
The Bulldog offense broke through in the bottom of the third, as it plated three runs on three hits. Kole Harris started the frame with a walk, and Carmine Pagano put two runners on base following his single through the left side. After a fly out, Brandon Lankford torched a three-run home run that flew over the building in left field. Tyler Serricchio and Danny Wilson reached base following the two-out bomb, but the duo were left stranded.
In the top of the fourth, the Jaspers retaliated, as they tallied two runs in the inning. They started the frame with three straight hits, which plated one Jasper. Brendan Bisset pulled the deficit to only one run, as he connected with a sacrifice fly.
The Bulldogs doubled its lead (4-2) in the home-half of the fourth, as Joe Gruszka connected with a solo home run to right field. It was his third homer of the season.
Manhattan had a prime opportunity to take the lead in the top of the fifth, as the Jaspers had the bases loaded with one out. However, Carr forced the batter into a 1-2-3 double play to end the threat and keep the Bulldogs ahead, 4-2.
In the bottom of the fifth inning, Lankford smoked a double to left field, and after a strikeout and a balk, Wilson singled to left to score his teammate easily from third and advance the Bulldog lead to 5-2.
After a quiet sixth inning for both squads, UNC Asheville tacked on two insurance runs. Serricchio posted his third career home run, which was a two-run homer to left field.
The Jaspers answered with a solo home run of their own in the eighth inning, which made the game 7-3. However, the Bulldogs struck back with a pair of runs in the bottom of the frame. Chris Troost smoked a RBI single through the right side, and Pagano tallied a RBI single to center field.
Manhattan had no fight in the final frame, as it went down 1-2-3 to seal the Bulldog victory, 9-3.
Carr was phenomenal in his fourth start of the season, as he shut down the Jasper offense. He twirled seven innings and scattered six hits. He struck out four and allowed just a pair of runs on 96 total pitches. Eric Whitecavage posted an inning of work, where he allowed a run, and Harris shut the door, as he held the Jasper offense scoreless, while striking out a pair.
Lankford led both teams offensively, as he tallied three hits. He was only a triple away from recording a cycle. The sophomore third baseman posted a three-run home run, a double and a single. He also touched home twice in Saturday's contest.
Serricchio and Pagano each connected with two hits, as they combined for three RBIs and three runs scored. Gruszka, Troost and Wilson each contributed a RBI and a hit in the showdown.
As a team, the Bulldogs walked eight times and pounded out 12 total hits. Of the 12 hits, four went for extra-bases.
With the series finale victory, UNC Asheville advances to 3-11 overall on the year, and Manhattan falls to 4-9.
What's Next?
UNC Asheville travels to NC State on Tuesday, March 13, for a two-game mid-week series in Raleigh, N.C. Tuesday's matchup is slated to begin at 3 p.m.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Carr, Jordan (2-1)
L: DiNizio, Joe (0-2)
Batting:
2B: Pena, Fabian 1 ; Bisset, Brendan 1
HR: Forlow, Matt 1
RBI: Forlow, Matt 1 ; Barrella, Richie 1 ; Bisset, Brendan 1
SH: Genners, Adam 1
SF: Bisset, Brendan 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Forlow, Matt 2 ; Pena, Fabian 1
HBP: Padre, Matt 1
PO: Trochiano, Will 1 ; Barrella, Richie 1
Batting:
2B: Lankford, Brandon 1
HR: Gruszka, Joe 1 ; Lankford, Brandon 1 ; Serricchio, Tyler 1
RBI: Gruszka, Joe 1 ; Troost, Chris 1 ; Pagano, Carmine 1 ; Lankford, Brandon 3 ; Serricchio, Tyler 2 ; Wilson, Danny 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Gruszka, Joe 2 ; Harris, Kole 2 ; Pagano, Carmine 2 ; Lankford, Brandon 2 ; Serricchio, Tyler 1
CS: Wilson, Danny 1
