University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
UNC Asheville
3-13
NC State
15-3
Late Bulldog Rally Falls Short; UNC Asheville Drops 6-2 Decision at No. 24 NC State
03.14.2018 | Baseball
RALEIGH, N.C. – Although UNC Asheville baseball was leading or tied for five and a half innings, No. 24 NC State came out victorious, 6-2, despite the late rally by the Bulldogs in the ninth inning on Wednesday at Doak Field.
BULLDOG BITES
Highlights
Both teams put runners on base in the first inning, as Chris Troost recorded the Bulldog's first hit of the game. NC State tried to capitalize with two walks and a hit-by-pitch in the bottom of the first, but the three Wolfpack players were left stranded.
The Bulldogs broke through in the second inning, as Asheville posted four walks to plate the game's first run. Joe Zayatz, Danny Wilson and Cody Wilson recorded three straight walks, and following a strikeout, Kole Harris earned a six-pitch walk to earn the RBI and give Asheville the 1-0 lead.
Freshman pitcher Beau Nichols faced the minimum in the bottom of the second to hold the one-run advantage on the Wolfpack.
After a scoreless frame for both clubs in the third inning, NC State knotted the game at 1-1 in the fourth, as the Wolfpack struck for three straight singles.
UNC Asheville was held off the scoreboard in both the fifth and sixth innings, and NC State took advantage in the bottom of the sixth frame with a two-RBI double from Josh McClain.
The Bulldogs tried to retaliate in the top of the seventh, as they were down 3-1. Andrew Friedholm drew a leadoff walk, and with one out, he swiped second for his first stolen base of the season and the third of his career. Troost walked to reach base safely for the second time of the game. However, the second NC State reliever of the game, Nick Swiney, got the final two outs of the inning to leave the two Bulldogs stranded.
Nationally-ranked NC State tacked on three insurances runs in the home-half of the seventh, as it struck a double and two singles to take a 6-1 lead.
After a quick eighth inning for both ball clubs, the Bulldogs attempted a ninth-inning comeback. Cody Wilson reached base on a fielding error to start the inning, and Friedholm knocked a single to right field to put two runners on base. Harris grounded into a double play, but Cody Wilson advanced to third base safely. Troost followed with a five pitch-walk, and Carmine Pagano connected with a RBI single to center to make it a 6-2 game with two outs. However, the Bulldogs couldn't muster any more runs, as the fourth NC State pitcher of the game forced the final Bulldog to strikeout swinging and seal the four-run victory.
UNC Asheville sent out eight total pitchers in the series finale versus NC State. Five of those pitchers had scoreless outings. Right-handed pitcher Nichols twirled three innings and only surrendered one hit. He struck out a pair and didn't allow a run. Hunter Burnette, Ethan Tressler, Cody Wilson and Harris each made scoreless relief appearances, as the foursome combined for 2.2 innings of work.
Offensively, the Bulldogs mustered three hits. Troost connected with the team's first hit of the afternoon, while Pagano and Friedholm recorded the team's other two hits. Pagano and Harris each posted a RBI in the series finale.
The Bulldogs fall to 3-13 overall, while the nationally-ranked Wolfpack moves to 15-3 overall and 14-2 at Doak Field.
What's Next?
UNC Asheville opens Big South Conference play beginning on Friday, March 16, at Radford. First pitch for the conference opener on Friday is scheduled for 4 p.m. in Radford, Va.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Reid Johnston (2-0)
L: Brown, Blake (0-1)
Batting:
RBI: Harris, Kole 1 ; Pagano, Carmine 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Zayatz, Joe 1 ; Wilson, Cody 1
SB: Friedholm, Andrew 1
Batting:
2B: Josh McLain 1 ; Will Wilson 1
RBI: Josh McLain 2 ; Brock Deatherage 1 ; Dillon Cooper 2 ; J.T. Jarrett 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Will Wilson 1 ; Shane Shepard 1 ; Devonte Brown 1 ; Jack Conley 3
SB: Josh McLain 1 ; Brock Deatherage 1
CS: Brock Deatherage 1 ; Jack Conley 1 ; Dillon Cooper 1
HBP: Brock Deatherage 1
