University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
UNC Asheville
10-27, 0
Winthrop
18-22, 0
UNC Asheville Narrowly Falls, 2-1, in Series Opener at Winthrop
04.20.2018 | Baseball
ROCK HILL, S.C. – Despite scoring first on a solo home run from Joe Gruszka, the UNC Asheville baseball team fell, 2-1, to Winthrop on Friday night at the Winthrop Ballpark.
BULLDOG BITES
Highlights
Despite both teams being held scoreless in the first inning, both squads recorded at least one hit. Danny Wilson poked a one-out double for the Bulldogs, while UNC Asheville starting pitcher Blake Brown stranded two Eagles in the first frame.
However at the top of the second, Asheville took advantage of a one-out hit, which was a Gruszka solo home run to right field. The homer was his fourth of the season and his first since March 10 versus Manhattan.
With a one-run lead, Brown started to cruise for the next two innings on the hill. The sophomore worked back-to-back 1-2-3 innings, which included two strikeouts.
The Bulldogs tried to add to their lead in the top of the fourth, as Chris Troost and Brandon Lankford smacked back-to-back hits. However, the Bulldog tandem was left stranded.
After stranding a pair of Bulldogs in the top of the fourth, the Eagles took advantage, as they scored their first runs of the game and took the 2-1 lead. Brandon Fite led the frame off with a single. After a wild pitch, Mitch Spires tallied a base knock, which put runners at the corners for Winthrop. Dillon Morton followed with the third straight hit, which plated Fite. Cale Gibson grounded out to the pitcher, which gave Spires enough time to score and record the second run of the inning.
The Bulldogs didn't give in for the rest of the game, despite being down for the first time in the contest. In fact, Asheville put at least one runner on base in each of the final five innings, but it couldn't capitalize, as it combined for eight runners left on base from the fifth to ninth innings.
Six of the nine Bulldogs in the starting lineup tallied at least one hit on Friday, as Gruszka paced the squad with a pair of hits. One of his hits tallied the lone run for Asheville, which was a solo home run in the second. Joe Zayatz and Wilson each connected with extra-base hits, as they both poked doubles. Wilson also had a team-high two walks in the series opener.
In his first start of the season, Brown twirled 3.1 frames, where he scattered five hits and allowed two runs. He didn't surrender a walk and struck out two Eagles. Jordan Fulbright was nearly flawless out of the bullpen, as the senior worked 3.2 innings. He allowed just two hits without a run to score. He also struck out five batters and didn't allow a walk. Eric Whitecavage finished the game and didn't allow a run to score, despite allowing two hits.
UNC Asheville falls to 10-27 overall and 5-11 in the Big South, and Winthrop moves to 18-22 overall and 10-6 in league play.
What's Next?
UNC Asheville and Winthrop continue the three-game series on Saturday, April 21, with first pitch slated for 4 p.m. at the Winthrop Ballpark.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: PAWELCZYK, NATE (5-4)
L: Brown, Blake (0-4)
S: WHITAKER, DALTON (2)
Batting:
2B: Zayatz, Joe 1 ; Wilson, Danny 1
HR: Gruszka, Joe 1
RBI: Gruszka, Joe 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Gruszka, Joe 1
SB: Gruszka, Joe 1
HBP: Wilson, Danny 1 ; Pagano, Carmine 1
Batting:
2B: HALSTEAD, TYLER 1
RBI: MORTON, DILLON 1 ; GIBSON, CALE 1
Base Running:
RUNS: FITE, BRANDON 1 ; SPIRES, MITCH 1
SB: FITE, BRANDON 1
