University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
UNC Asheville
2-10
Manhattan
3-8
Bulldogs Drop Doubleheader on Friday
03.09.2018 | Baseball
ASHEVILLE, N.C. – The UNC Asheville baseball team dropped two games on Friday to Manhattan, as the Bulldogs fell 16-2 in game one and 8-3 the second game at Greenwood Field.
BULLDOG BITES
Game One Highlights
After a quick first inning for both squads, Manhattan broke through in the top of the second inning, as the Jaspers tallied a two-out RBI single.
In the next inning, Manhattan doubled its lead, as Matt Padre connected with a RBI single to right field.
In the bottom of the fourth, UNC Asheville threatened by putting two runners on to start the frame, but the Jaspers collected a strikeout followed by a caught stealing and a pop out to end the Bulldog threat.
In the next half inning, Manhattan double its lead again, as Fabian Pena connected with a two-run homer to left field to give his team the 4-0 lead.
The Bulldog offense eventually broke through in the bottom of the sixth, as it took advantage of multiple Jasper defensive miscues. Joe Gruszka walked and eventually scored thanks to two wild pitches and a balk. Carmine Pagano reached base thanks to a fielding error, and he eventually made his way to third base via a failed pickoff attempt and the third wild pitch of the frame. He scored on the next at-bat, as Chris Troost split the left-center field gap to make it only a two-run deficit.
The Jaspers capped off the game by plating 11 unanswered runs to seal the 16-2 victory over the Bulldogs in game one of the doubleheader.
Game Two Highlights
Bulldog starting pitcher Nick Boyles was flawless in his first start of his senior season. The right-handed pitcher from Clemmons, N.C. twirled three innings, where he only allowed one Jasper hit. He struck out four Jaspers and didn't allow a run.
After he was relieved, Manhattan took advantage, as it plated a pair of runs off three hits in the fourth frame.
Neither UNC Asheville or Manhattan could find much offense in the fifth and sixth innings. Kole Harris connected with the lone hit for either squad, which came with two outs in the bottom of the sixth.
In the seventh inning, Manhattan doubled its lead, as Pena drilled a two-RBI double to left center.
However, the Bulldogs retaliated in the bottom of the frame with a run. Gruszka recorded a walk, and he advanced to third following a Joe Zayatz single to right field. Both Bulldogs advanced 90 feet on a wild pitch, which brought the deficit to 4-1.
Following a 1-2-3 inning in the top of the 8th, the Bulldogs couldn't capitalize on a hit-by-pitch, as they saw themselves trailing 4-1 heading into the final inning.
The Jasper offense erupted in the final inning, as it tacked on four insurance runs to take a 8-1 lead.
Zayatz tried to start a comeback for the Bulldogs, as he drilled Asheville's first home run at Greenwood Field. He connected with a two-run homer to make the game 8-3, but that was as close the Bulldogs would get.
With the two losses on Friday, UNC Asheville drops to 2-11 overall on the year, and Manhattan advances to 4-8.
What's Next?
The Bulldogs and Jaspers finish the three-game series on Saturday, March 10, at Greenwood Field. First pitch is slated for 2 p.m.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Galvan, Marc (1-1)
L: Gasparro, Greg (0-2)
Batting:
2B: Trochiano, Will 1 ; Forlow, Matt 1
HR: Pena, Fabian 2 ; Barrella, Richie 1
RBI: Forlow, Matt 2 ; Pena, Fabian 5 ; Barrella, Richie 5 ; Padre, Matt 1 ; Bisset, Brendan 1 ; Morgan, Matt 1
SH: Bisset, Brendan 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Trochiano, Will 2 ; Forlow, Matt 4 ; Pena, Fabian 5 ; Barrella, Richie 2 ; Padre, Matt 1 ; Cerda, Alex 1 ; Genners, Adam 1
HBP: Pena, Fabian 1
Batting:
2B: Troost, Chris 1 ; Zayatz, Joe 1
RBI: Troost, Chris 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Gruszka, Joe 1 ; Pagano, Carmine 1
CS: Pagano, Carmine 1
HBP: Madole, Jake 1
