University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
Sunday, April 29
Asheville, NC
1:00 PM
UNC Asheville
12-31, 0
12
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10
Gardner-Webb
26-20, 0
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9
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Gardner-Webb
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16
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UNC Asheville
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Photo by: Adrian Etheridge
UNC Asheville Claims Rubber Match to Win Series Over Gardner-Webb
04.29.2018 | Baseball
ASHEVILLE, N.C. – To win the series over the Runnin' Bulldogs, the UNC Asheville baseball team outlasted Gardner-Webb, 12-10, to win the rubber match on Sunday at Greenwood Field.
BULLDOG BITES
Highlights
The Bulldogs quickly jumped on the Gardner-Webb starting pitcher, as they totaled four runs in the bottom of the first. Joe Gruszka started the rally with a RBI triple. Two batters later, Tyler Serricchio smacked a RBI single to center, and Anthony Cuozzi capped off the scoring with a two-RBI double to left center.
In the top of the second, Gardner-Webb struck for a trio of runs. Luke Kaesmeyer connected with a one-out RBI single. Mason Fox and Mickey Dugan followed with RBI walks to cap off the three-run inning.
Up 4-3, UNC Asheville tacked on a run in the bottom of the second, as Greg Gasparro scored after a Joe Zayatz single and a throwing error.
After a silent third inning for both clubs, GWU knotted the game at 5-all in the top of the fourth. Fox connected with a RBI double, and Corey Howard dropped a RBI single with two outs.
Again the Bulldogs quickly retaliated with a run in the bottom of the fourth. After earning a single, Chris Troost scored on a double play later in the inning.
UNC Asheville doubled its lead, as it took a 7-5 lead in the fifth inning. Gruszka smacked a leadoff single to right field. He swiped second base and scored on a Serricchio single to left center.
Gardner-Webb pulled within one run, as Dugan singled to left field to plate Ben LaSpaluto in the top of the sixth.
The Bulldogs added two runs in the home half of the inning, as Pagano smacked a two RBI double to left center. The extra-base knock advanced the lead to 9-6.
Both teams went 1-2-3 in the seventh inning, but Gardner-Webb earned its first lead of the contest (10-9) with a three-run eighth inning. Howard singled trough the right side to score Fox from third. After a pitching change, Eric Jones cracked a three-run homer to left field, which gave the Runnin' Bulldogs the one-run lead.
The Bulldogs didn't give in though, as they regained the lead in the bottom of the eighth. Troost started the frame with a four-pitch walk, and GWU countered with a pitching change. Kole Harris laid down a sacrifice bunt to move Troost into scoring position. Gasparro followed with a walk, and Zayatz drew another walk to force the bases loaded. Following a fly out, Gruszka walked to bring home Troost and tied the game at 10-all. Wilson followed with a double down the left field line, which scored two Bulldogs and gave UNC Asheville the 12-10 lead.
Harris continued to pitch for UNC Asheville, and he secured his first win of the season after striking out the side in the top of the ninth.
The one through five hitters for UNC Asheville – Zayatz, Pagano, Gruszka, Wilson and Serricchio – combined for 10 hits and eight RBIs. Zayatz connected with four hits, which is a single-game best for the redshirt senior. The Columbia, Md. native also drew one walk and touched home twice.
Gruszka and Serricchio each smacked two hits and two RBIs, while the duo combined for three runs scored.
Wilson smacked the go-ahead and ultimate game-winning hit for UNC Asheville, as he connected with a two-RBI double in the eighth. The junior finished the game with a walk and a run scored.
Pagano also connected with a double. He finished the contest with two RBIs and a run scored.
Harris joined in on the action, as he totaled two base knocks in three at-bats.
Cuozzi totaled a hit and two RBIs, while Troost earned a base hit and touched home twice.
On the mound, Austin Fahr had the most effective relief appearance for the Bulldogs, as he worked 1.2 innings without allowing a run. He allowed just one hit in his second relief appearance of the weekend.
With the rubber match win, the Bulldogs advance to 12-31 overall and 7-14 in Big South Conference play. Gardner-Webb falls to 26-20 on the year and 11-10 in league play.
What's Next?
UNC Asheville will play a mid-week game on Tuesday, May 1, at nationally-ranked North Carolina. First pitch is slated for 6 p.m. in Chapel Hill, N.C.
BULLDOG BITES
Highlights
The Bulldogs quickly jumped on the Gardner-Webb starting pitcher, as they totaled four runs in the bottom of the first. Joe Gruszka started the rally with a RBI triple. Two batters later, Tyler Serricchio smacked a RBI single to center, and Anthony Cuozzi capped off the scoring with a two-RBI double to left center.
In the top of the second, Gardner-Webb struck for a trio of runs. Luke Kaesmeyer connected with a one-out RBI single. Mason Fox and Mickey Dugan followed with RBI walks to cap off the three-run inning.
Up 4-3, UNC Asheville tacked on a run in the bottom of the second, as Greg Gasparro scored after a Joe Zayatz single and a throwing error.
After a silent third inning for both clubs, GWU knotted the game at 5-all in the top of the fourth. Fox connected with a RBI double, and Corey Howard dropped a RBI single with two outs.
Again the Bulldogs quickly retaliated with a run in the bottom of the fourth. After earning a single, Chris Troost scored on a double play later in the inning.
UNC Asheville doubled its lead, as it took a 7-5 lead in the fifth inning. Gruszka smacked a leadoff single to right field. He swiped second base and scored on a Serricchio single to left center.
Gardner-Webb pulled within one run, as Dugan singled to left field to plate Ben LaSpaluto in the top of the sixth.
The Bulldogs added two runs in the home half of the inning, as Pagano smacked a two RBI double to left center. The extra-base knock advanced the lead to 9-6.
Both teams went 1-2-3 in the seventh inning, but Gardner-Webb earned its first lead of the contest (10-9) with a three-run eighth inning. Howard singled trough the right side to score Fox from third. After a pitching change, Eric Jones cracked a three-run homer to left field, which gave the Runnin' Bulldogs the one-run lead.
The Bulldogs didn't give in though, as they regained the lead in the bottom of the eighth. Troost started the frame with a four-pitch walk, and GWU countered with a pitching change. Kole Harris laid down a sacrifice bunt to move Troost into scoring position. Gasparro followed with a walk, and Zayatz drew another walk to force the bases loaded. Following a fly out, Gruszka walked to bring home Troost and tied the game at 10-all. Wilson followed with a double down the left field line, which scored two Bulldogs and gave UNC Asheville the 12-10 lead.
Harris continued to pitch for UNC Asheville, and he secured his first win of the season after striking out the side in the top of the ninth.
The one through five hitters for UNC Asheville – Zayatz, Pagano, Gruszka, Wilson and Serricchio – combined for 10 hits and eight RBIs. Zayatz connected with four hits, which is a single-game best for the redshirt senior. The Columbia, Md. native also drew one walk and touched home twice.
Gruszka and Serricchio each smacked two hits and two RBIs, while the duo combined for three runs scored.
Wilson smacked the go-ahead and ultimate game-winning hit for UNC Asheville, as he connected with a two-RBI double in the eighth. The junior finished the game with a walk and a run scored.
Pagano also connected with a double. He finished the contest with two RBIs and a run scored.
Harris joined in on the action, as he totaled two base knocks in three at-bats.
Cuozzi totaled a hit and two RBIs, while Troost earned a base hit and touched home twice.
On the mound, Austin Fahr had the most effective relief appearance for the Bulldogs, as he worked 1.2 innings without allowing a run. He allowed just one hit in his second relief appearance of the weekend.
With the rubber match win, the Bulldogs advance to 12-31 overall and 7-14 in Big South Conference play. Gardner-Webb falls to 26-20 on the year and 11-10 in league play.
What's Next?
UNC Asheville will play a mid-week game on Tuesday, May 1, at nationally-ranked North Carolina. First pitch is slated for 6 p.m. in Chapel Hill, N.C.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Harris, Kole (1-0)
L: FOX, Mason (3-6)
Batting:
2B: FOX, Mason 1 ; HOWARD, Corey 1
HR: JONES, Eric 1
RBI: FOX, Mason 1 ; DUGAN, Mickey 2 ; HOWARD, Corey 3 ; JONES, Eric 3 ; KAESMEYER, Luke 1
SH: LaSPALUTO, Ben 1
Base Running:
RUNS: FOX, Mason 2 ; DUGAN, Mickey 1 ; HOWARD, Corey 1 ; JONES, Eric 1 ; REDMOND, Chandler 1 ; CLARY, Chris 1 ; KAESMEYER, Luke 1 ; KUNZ, Justin 1 ; LaSPALUTO, Ben 1
SB: REDMOND, Chandler 1
HBP: KUNZ, Justin 1
PO: FOX, Mason 1 ; DUGAN, Mickey 1
Batting:
2B: Zayatz, Joe 1 ; Pagano, Carmine 1 ; Wilson, Danny 1 ; Cuozzi, Anthony 1
3B: Gruszka, Joe 1
RBI: Pagano, Carmine 2 ; Gruszka, Joe 2 ; Wilson, Danny 2 ; Serricchio, Tyler 2 ; Cuozzi, Anthony 2
SH: Harris, Kole 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Zayatz, Joe 2 ; Pagano, Carmine 1 ; Gruszka, Joe 2 ; Wilson, Danny 1 ; Serricchio, Tyler 1 ; Troost, Chris 2 ; Harris, Kole 1 ; Gasparro, Greg 2
SB: Gruszka, Joe 1
HBP: Gasparro, Greg 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
4
R
2
H
4
RBI
0
AB
4
R
2
H
2
RBI
2
AB
4
R
1
H
2
RBI
2
rf/p
AB
3
R
1
H
2
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
Infielder
/ Baseball
Left-Handed Pitcher
/ Baseball
Left-Handed Pitcher/Outfielder
/ BaseballCatcher/Utility
/ BaseballUtility/Right-Handed Pitcher
/ BaseballCatcher/Infielder
/ Baseball
Infielder
/ BaseballRight-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