University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
Friday, April 27
Asheville, NC
6:00 PM
UNC Asheville
10-31, 0
2
vs
5
Gardner-Webb
26-18, 0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
R
H
E
Gardner-Webb
0
0
1
2
0
0
2
0
0
5
9
0
UNC Asheville
0
1
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
2
11
3
Photo by: Adrian Etheridge
UNC Asheville Out-Hits Gardner-Webb But Drop Series Opener, 5-2
04.27.2018 | Baseball
ASHEVILLE, N.C. – Despite out-hitting Gardner-Webb, 11-9, UNC Asheville dropped the series opener to the Runnin' Bulldogs, 5-2, on Friday night at Greenwood Field.
BULLDOG BITES
Highlights
Making his second start of the season, Blake Brown was efficient for his first two innings of work. In the first frame, the sophomore worked around back-to-back hits, as he stranded the two Runnin' Bulldogs. In the second inning, Brown only allowed one runner to reach base, but he forced a strikeout, pop out and a ground out to hold GWU scoreless for the second straight inning.
UNC Asheville capitalized in the home half of the second inning, as it took the 1-0 lead. Chris Troost singled down the left field line to lead off the inning. Brandon Lankford followed with a walk, and Greg Gasparro forced the bases loaded with a bunt base hit. After an unconventional double play, Kole Harris smacked a single to right field to score Lankford from second base.
In the top of the third, Gardner-Webb leveled the game at 1-all, as Eric Jones connected with a RBI single to left.
In the bottom of the third, the Bulldogs had a chance to plate runs, as they had the bases loaded. However, the three Bulldogs were left stranded.
Gardner-Webb took advantage in the next frame, as it tacked on two runs to take its first lead of the contest. Justin Kunz earned a sacrifice fly, and Mickey Dugan singled to center to give his team the 3-1 lead.
Neither team could find any momentum, until Asheville plated a lone run in the bottom of the sixth. Lankford doubled to center with one out, and Gasparro connected with a single to left to put runners at the corners. Tyler Serricchio took advantage with a RBI single to pull the deficit to only one run, 3-2.
GWU capitalized on a UNC Asheville fielding error with two outs in the top of the seventh, as Chandler Redmond knocked a two-run home run to right center.
UNC Asheville's best chance to cut into the three-run deficit was in the home half of the seventh. Danny Wilson and Troost tallied back-to-back singles, but two Bulldogs struck out looking to leave the duo on base.
In the last two innings, neither team found momentum. Between both clubs, only one player reached base safely, which was a Kunz hit by pitch.
Serricchio, Troost and Gasparro posted multi-hit performances, while Serricchio earned one of the team's two RBIs. Harris was the other Bulldog to record a RBI, as he finished the game going 1-for-4. Lankford earned a double, as he touched home twice and walked twice. Zayatz connected with the second double for UNC Asheville, as he finished the game going 1-for-4 with a walk.
Brown worked four innings and allowed two earned runs, while scattering six hits. Jordan Fulbright continued his success out of the bullpen, as the senior didn't allow an earned run in five innings of work. He struck out four batters and allowed just three hits.
UNC Asheville falls to 10-31 overall and 5-14 in the Big South Conference, while Gardner-Webb moves to 25-18 on the year and 11-8 in league play.
What's Next?
UNC Asheville hosts Gardner-Webb for the second game of the three-game series on Saturday, April 28. First pitch is slated for 3 p.m. at Greenwood Field.
BULLDOG BITES
Highlights
Making his second start of the season, Blake Brown was efficient for his first two innings of work. In the first frame, the sophomore worked around back-to-back hits, as he stranded the two Runnin' Bulldogs. In the second inning, Brown only allowed one runner to reach base, but he forced a strikeout, pop out and a ground out to hold GWU scoreless for the second straight inning.
UNC Asheville capitalized in the home half of the second inning, as it took the 1-0 lead. Chris Troost singled down the left field line to lead off the inning. Brandon Lankford followed with a walk, and Greg Gasparro forced the bases loaded with a bunt base hit. After an unconventional double play, Kole Harris smacked a single to right field to score Lankford from second base.
In the top of the third, Gardner-Webb leveled the game at 1-all, as Eric Jones connected with a RBI single to left.
In the bottom of the third, the Bulldogs had a chance to plate runs, as they had the bases loaded. However, the three Bulldogs were left stranded.
Gardner-Webb took advantage in the next frame, as it tacked on two runs to take its first lead of the contest. Justin Kunz earned a sacrifice fly, and Mickey Dugan singled to center to give his team the 3-1 lead.
Neither team could find any momentum, until Asheville plated a lone run in the bottom of the sixth. Lankford doubled to center with one out, and Gasparro connected with a single to left to put runners at the corners. Tyler Serricchio took advantage with a RBI single to pull the deficit to only one run, 3-2.
GWU capitalized on a UNC Asheville fielding error with two outs in the top of the seventh, as Chandler Redmond knocked a two-run home run to right center.
UNC Asheville's best chance to cut into the three-run deficit was in the home half of the seventh. Danny Wilson and Troost tallied back-to-back singles, but two Bulldogs struck out looking to leave the duo on base.
In the last two innings, neither team found momentum. Between both clubs, only one player reached base safely, which was a Kunz hit by pitch.
Serricchio, Troost and Gasparro posted multi-hit performances, while Serricchio earned one of the team's two RBIs. Harris was the other Bulldog to record a RBI, as he finished the game going 1-for-4. Lankford earned a double, as he touched home twice and walked twice. Zayatz connected with the second double for UNC Asheville, as he finished the game going 1-for-4 with a walk.
Brown worked four innings and allowed two earned runs, while scattering six hits. Jordan Fulbright continued his success out of the bullpen, as the senior didn't allow an earned run in five innings of work. He struck out four batters and allowed just three hits.
UNC Asheville falls to 10-31 overall and 5-14 in the Big South Conference, while Gardner-Webb moves to 25-18 on the year and 11-8 in league play.
What's Next?
UNC Asheville hosts Gardner-Webb for the second game of the three-game series on Saturday, April 28. First pitch is slated for 3 p.m. at Greenwood Field.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: WILSON, Langdon (2-0)
L: Brown, Blake (0-5)
S: JOHNSON, Tyler (1)
Batting:
2B: CLARY, Chris 1
HR: REDMOND, Chandler 1
RBI: DUGAN, Mickey 1 ; JONES, Eric 1 ; REDMOND, Chandler 2 ; KUNZ, Justin 1
SF: KUNZ, Justin 1
Base Running:
RUNS: HOWARD, Corey 1 ; JONES, Eric 1 ; REDMOND, Chandler 1 ; CLARY, Chris 1 ; LaSPALUTO, Ben 1
SB: DUGAN, Mickey 1 ; LaSPALUTO, Ben 1
HBP: LaSPALUTO, Ben 1 ; KUNZ, Justin 1
PO: FOX, Mason 1
Batting:
2B: Zayatz, Joe 1 ; Lankford, Brandon 1
RBI: Serricchio, Tyler 1 ; Harris, Kole 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Lankford, Brandon 2
CS: Serricchio, Tyler 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
4
R
0
H
2
RBI
0
AB
4
R
0
H
2
RBI
0
AB
4
R
0
H
2
RBI
1
AB
4
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
Right-Handed Pitcher
/ Baseball
Left-Handed Pitcher
/ BaseballLeft-Handed Pitcher/Outfielder
/ Baseball
Utility/Right-Handed Pitcher
/ Baseball
Infielder
/ BaseballCatcher/Infielder
/ BaseballInfielder
/ Baseball
Utility/Right-Handed Pitcher
/ BaseballHighlights || Baseball || UNC Asheville vs Presbyterian (Game 3)
Tuesday, May 28
Highlights || Baseball || UNC Asheville at Presbyterian (Game 2)
Tuesday, May 28
Highlights || Baseball || UNC Asheville at Presbyterian (Game 1)
Tuesday, May 28
Highlights || Baseball || UNC Asheville vs Gardner-Webb (Game 3)
Monday, May 13