University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
Saturday, April 28
Asheville, NC
3:00 PM
UNC Asheville
11-31, 0
3
vs
1
Gardner-Webb
26-19, 0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
R
H
E
Gardner-Webb
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
1
4
1
UNC Asheville
0
0
2
0
0
0
1
0
X
3
10
1
Photo by: Carter Kennedy
Wilson, Pitching Staff Lead Bulldogs to 3-1 Win
04.28.2018 | Baseball
ASHEVILLE, N.C. – Behind strong performances from Danny Wilson and the UNC Asheville pitching staff, the baseball team claimed the 3-1 victory over Gardner-Webb on Saturday at Greenwood Field, which evened the series between the two clubs.
BULLDOG BITES
Highlights
Gardner-Webb threatened to score runs early, as it connected with a pair of two-out hits in the first inning. The Runnin' Bulldogs forced the bases loaded with a walk, but UNC Asheville starting pitcher, Greg Gasparro, stranded all three batters by striking out Chris Clary for the final out.
In the bottom of the first, Asheville also threatened to score runs, as Joe Gruszka and Wilson recorded back-to-back walks. GWU starting pitcher, Bradley Hallman, finished the frame with a groundout, which stranded the two Bulldogs.
After a quiet second inning, UNC Asheville broke the scoreless tie in the third with a pair of runs. With two outs, Gruszka connected with a single to left, and Wilson followed with a towering home run that hit off the building in left field. It was the junior's second homer of the season and the first since February 18 at Lipscomb.
With the 2-0 lead, Gasparro started to settle in on the mound, as he only allowed one hit in his final 2.2 innings of work.
In the middle of the sixth, the Runnin' Bulldogs nearly knotted the game, but Eric Whitecavage came on in relief with the bases loaded. The right-handed reliever left all three Runnin' Bulldogs on base, as he forced pinch-hitter Luke Kaesmeyer to ground out to first base.
Still up by two runs, the Bulldogs were looking to add insurance runs. In the bottom of the sixth they nearly did so, as Brandon Lankford, Tyler Serricchio and Joe Zayatz all reached base safely. However, Hallman worked out of the jam without a run to score.
GWU finally earned its first run of the game in the seventh inning, which cut the lead in half. Mason Fox walked with one out, and he advanced to third base on a throwing error. Mickey Dugan capitalized with a sacrifice fly and plated the unearned run.
The Bulldogs quickly retaliated though, as they plated a run in the same frame. Wilson smacked a double to left field with one out, and Chris Troost brought him home on a single up the middle to advance the lead to 3-1.
Whitecavage and Austin Fahr combined to strike out the side in the top of the eighth, and Kole Harris slammed the door in the ninth to seal the two-run victory.
Offensively, Wilson led UNC Asheville, as the junior recorded three hits, two RBIs, two runs scored and a walk. He was only a triple away from hitting for the cycle. The three-hit game also matches a single-game high for the Hampstead, N.C. native.
Troost jumped in on the action with a pair of singles, as he also earned a RBI, and Serricchio rounded out the extra-base hits for Asheville, as he connected with a double.
Gasparro earned the win, as he moves to 2-6 on the year. He worked 5.2 frames, where he didn't allow a run, scattered four hits and struck out three batters.
Whitecavage twirled 1.2 frames, where he didn't allow an earned run to score and didn't surrender a hit.
Fahr held the Runnin' Bulldogs scoreless and hitless in his 0.2 innings, as he posted a pair of strikeouts.
Harris faced the minimum in the ninth inning en route to his fifth save of the year. The fifth save moves him into four-way tie for the seventh-most saves recorded in a single season at UNC Asheville.
With the victory, the Bulldogs move to 11-31 overall and 6-14 in Big South Conference play. Gardner-Webb drops to 26-19 on the year and 11-9 in league play.
What's Next?
The rubber match between UNC Asheville and Gardner-Webb is scheduled for Sunday, April 29, at Greenwood Field. First pitch is slated for 1 p.m.
BULLDOG BITES
Highlights
Gardner-Webb threatened to score runs early, as it connected with a pair of two-out hits in the first inning. The Runnin' Bulldogs forced the bases loaded with a walk, but UNC Asheville starting pitcher, Greg Gasparro, stranded all three batters by striking out Chris Clary for the final out.
In the bottom of the first, Asheville also threatened to score runs, as Joe Gruszka and Wilson recorded back-to-back walks. GWU starting pitcher, Bradley Hallman, finished the frame with a groundout, which stranded the two Bulldogs.
After a quiet second inning, UNC Asheville broke the scoreless tie in the third with a pair of runs. With two outs, Gruszka connected with a single to left, and Wilson followed with a towering home run that hit off the building in left field. It was the junior's second homer of the season and the first since February 18 at Lipscomb.
With the 2-0 lead, Gasparro started to settle in on the mound, as he only allowed one hit in his final 2.2 innings of work.
In the middle of the sixth, the Runnin' Bulldogs nearly knotted the game, but Eric Whitecavage came on in relief with the bases loaded. The right-handed reliever left all three Runnin' Bulldogs on base, as he forced pinch-hitter Luke Kaesmeyer to ground out to first base.
Still up by two runs, the Bulldogs were looking to add insurance runs. In the bottom of the sixth they nearly did so, as Brandon Lankford, Tyler Serricchio and Joe Zayatz all reached base safely. However, Hallman worked out of the jam without a run to score.
GWU finally earned its first run of the game in the seventh inning, which cut the lead in half. Mason Fox walked with one out, and he advanced to third base on a throwing error. Mickey Dugan capitalized with a sacrifice fly and plated the unearned run.
The Bulldogs quickly retaliated though, as they plated a run in the same frame. Wilson smacked a double to left field with one out, and Chris Troost brought him home on a single up the middle to advance the lead to 3-1.
Whitecavage and Austin Fahr combined to strike out the side in the top of the eighth, and Kole Harris slammed the door in the ninth to seal the two-run victory.
Offensively, Wilson led UNC Asheville, as the junior recorded three hits, two RBIs, two runs scored and a walk. He was only a triple away from hitting for the cycle. The three-hit game also matches a single-game high for the Hampstead, N.C. native.
Troost jumped in on the action with a pair of singles, as he also earned a RBI, and Serricchio rounded out the extra-base hits for Asheville, as he connected with a double.
Gasparro earned the win, as he moves to 2-6 on the year. He worked 5.2 frames, where he didn't allow a run, scattered four hits and struck out three batters.
Whitecavage twirled 1.2 frames, where he didn't allow an earned run to score and didn't surrender a hit.
Fahr held the Runnin' Bulldogs scoreless and hitless in his 0.2 innings, as he posted a pair of strikeouts.
Harris faced the minimum in the ninth inning en route to his fifth save of the year. The fifth save moves him into four-way tie for the seventh-most saves recorded in a single season at UNC Asheville.
With the victory, the Bulldogs move to 11-31 overall and 6-14 in Big South Conference play. Gardner-Webb drops to 26-19 on the year and 11-9 in league play.
What's Next?
The rubber match between UNC Asheville and Gardner-Webb is scheduled for Sunday, April 29, at Greenwood Field. First pitch is slated for 1 p.m.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Gasparro, Greg (2-6)
L: HALLMAN, Bradley (5-2)
S: Harris, Kole (5)
Batting:
RBI: DUGAN, Mickey 1
SH: MONGERO, Taber 1
SF: DUGAN, Mickey 1
Base Running:
RUNS: FOX, Mason 1
SB: JONES, Eric 1
Batting:
2B: Wilson, Danny 1 ; Serricchio, Tyler 1
HR: Wilson, Danny 1
RBI: Wilson, Danny 2 ; Troost, Chris 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Gruszka, Joe 1 ; Wilson, Danny 2
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
3
R
2
H
3
RBI
2
2b/rf
AB
4
R
0
H
2
RBI
1
AB
4
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
AB
3
R
1
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
Left-Handed Pitcher
/ Baseball
Left-Handed Pitcher/Outfielder
/ BaseballCatcher/Utility
/ Baseball
Utility/Right-Handed Pitcher
/ Baseball
Infielder
/ Baseball
Catcher/Infielder
/ BaseballInfielder
/ Baseball
Right-Handed Pitcher
/ BaseballUtility/Right-Handed Pitcher
/ Baseball
Right-Handed Pitcher/Outfielder
/ 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