University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
UNC Asheville
6-16, 3-3
Liberty
13-9, 4-2
Bulldogs Drop Series Finale at Liberty
03.24.2018 | Baseball
LYNCHBURG, Va. – Despite leading for four innings, the UNC Asheville baseball team fell 19-8 in the series finale to Liberty on Saturday at the Liberty Baseball Stadium.
BULLDOG BITES
Highlights
The Bulldogs made quick work in the first inning, as they took advantage of three hits. Kole Harris started the contest with a four-pitch walk, and Danny Wilson and Carmine Pagano each followed with back-to-back singles to force the bases loaded. Brandon Lankford connected with a sacrifice fly to put the Bulldogs up 1-0. Two batters later, Tyler Serricchio smoked a double, which cleared the bases and gave UNC Asheville the 3-0 lead.
UNC Asheville added a lone run in the top of the second, as the top of the order continued its hot stretch. Harris drew another walk, and Wilson followed with a single to left field. Pagano dropped a single to center, which plated Harris easily from third base.
The Flames retaliated with a run in each the second and third innings to cut the deficit in half, 4-2. The Bulldogs posted a run in the top of the fifth, but Liberty struck for 11 runs in the home-half of the fifth to take the 13-5 lead.
The Bulldog offense again posted a run in the sixth inning, as Wilson scored on a wild pitch with one out.
The Flames again retaliated with four unanswered runs in the next two innings to hold a 17-6 lead.
The Bulldogs posted a pair of runs in the eighth inning, as the Bulldogs tallied a pair of hits and two walks. Pagano posted his third hit of the game, and Serricchio tallied a RBI, as he reached on a fielder's choice. Joe Zayatz followed with his first hit of the contest, which was a RBI single to center field.
Liberty sealed the 19-8 victory, as the Flames recorded a pair of runs in the home-half of the eighth inning.
The one through four hitters for UNC Asheville (Harris, Wilson, Pagano and Lankford) combined for an impressive 10-for-16. Pagano and Wilson each posted a trio of hits. Harris touched home three times, while Pagano and Lankford each scored twice. Serricchio also had a multi-hit performance, as he connected with a pair of hits including a double. He had a team-high four RBIs as well.
With the series finale loss, UNC Asheville falls to 6-16 overall and 3-3 in league play. Liberty moves to 13-9 on the year and 4-2 in the Big South.
What's Next?
The Bulldogs return to the diamond on Tuesday, March 27, as they travel to ETSU for a a 4 p.m. showdown in Johnson City, Tenn.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: PRICE, G. (2-1)
L: Juday, Jesse (0-2)
Batting:
2B: Pagano, Carmine 1 ; Serricchio, Tyler 1
RBI: Pagano, Carmine 1 ; Lankford, Brandon 1 ; Serricchio, Tyler 4 ; Zayatz, Joe 1
SF: Lankford, Brandon 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Harris, Kole 3 ; Wilson, Danny 1 ; Pagano, Carmine 2 ; Lankford, Brandon 2
CS: Troost, Chris 1
Batting:
2B: ARTIS, D.J. 1 ; MCDYRE, T. 1 ; REESE, E.P. 1 ; GALAZIN, T. 1 ; KARRAKER, A. 1 ; LOCKLEAR, C. 1 ; EMBRY, J. 1
3B: MCDYRE, T. 1 ; HEID, B. 1
HR: ROHRER, B. 1
RBI: MCDYRE, T. 1 ; TODD, T. 2 ; HEID, B. 3 ; ALLEN, D. 2 ; GALAZIN, T. 1 ; KARRAKER, A. 2 ; LOCKLEAR, C. 1 ; EMBRY, J. 2 ; MATHIEU, L. 1 ; ROHRER, B. 1
SH: EMBRY, J. 1
SF: TODD, T. 1
Base Running:
RUNS: ARTIS, D.J. 4 ; MCDYRE, T. 2 ; TODD, T. 2 ; HEID, B. 3 ; REESE, E.P. 1 ; ALLEN, D. 2 ; GALAZIN, T. 1 ; LOCKLEAR, C. 2 ; ROHRER, B. 2
SB: ARTIS, D.J. 1
