University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
Wednesday, April 4
Asheville, NC / McCormick Field
6:00 PM
UNC Asheville
8-20
8
vs
4
Western Carolina
3-24
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
R
H
E
Western Carolina
0
2
0
0
1
0
0
1
0
4
6
2
UNC Asheville
0
1
5
0
0
1
0
1
X
8
12
1
Photo by: Adrian Etheridge
Bulldogs Claim 8-4 Victory in Vs. Cancer Game at McCormick Field
04.04.2018 | Baseball
ASHEVILLE, N.C. – In the annual Vs. Cancer game, the UNC Asheville baseball team claimed the 8-4 victory over Western Carolina at McCormick Field, as Brandon Lankford posted a trio of hits and RBIs in the four-run win over the Catamounts.
The Bulldog win marked the fifth straight head-to-head victory over the Catamounts.
BULLDOG BITES
Highlights
After a quick first inning for both ball clubs, Western Carolina earned the first lead of the game, as the Catamounts struck for two runs with one out in the second inning.
The Bulldogs cut the deficit in half, as Lankford crushed a one-out solo home run over the right center field wall.
UNC Asheville starting pitcher Danny Wilson worked a 1-2-3 inning in the third frame, and the Bulldogs took advantage by taking their first lead of the game, 6-2, in the home half of the third inning. Joe Gruszka collected a single to the pitcher with the bases loaded to knot the game at 2-all. Jake Madole followed with a two-RBI double to right center, and Lankford capped off the five-run inning with a two-RBI single to center field.
After a scoreless fourth inning for both teams, WCU made it a three-run game, 6-3, as Cameron Blaquiere connected with a sacrifice fly to center.
The Bulldogs added a lone run in the bottom of the sixth frame, as Andrew Friedholm started the inning with a single. Chris Troost followed with a walk, and after a strikeout, a fielder's choice and a Joe Zayatz's stolen base, Carmine Pagano forced a fielding error, which allowed Friedholm to score to make the game 7-3.
In the top of the eighth, the Catamounts tried to start a rally, as they scored on a wild pitch.
After the late Catamount run, the Bulldogs matched with a run of their own, which was a sacrifice fly from Pagano.
Kole Harris came in to pitch for the Bulldogs in the final inning, and he worked a 1-2-3 frame to seal the 8-4 victory for UNC Asheville.
Lankford had a game-high three RBIs, as the sophomore was only a triple away from earning the cycle. He also earned a game-high three RBIs and a run scored.
Madole posted a two-hit game, which extends his hitting streak to six straight. In that stretch, he has posted four multi-hit contests. The redshirt sophomore also tallied a pair of RBIs and touched home once in the mid-week game. Harris rounded out the multi-hit performances for Asheville, as he poked a pair of singles. Troost had strong outing, as he earned a single, two runs and a pair of walks.
Wilson, who started his fourth game this season, earned his first win of the year. He worked five innings and scattered four hits and struck out three Catamounts. The four Bulldog relievers - Nick Boyles, Jordan Carr, Jordan Fulbright and Harris – closed the contest, as the foursome each twirled an inning of work. Boyles, Carr and Harris combined for no hits, no runs and no walks. Fulbright struck out three batters and allowed just one run.
With the mid-week victory, UNC Asheville advances to 8-20 overall, and Western Carolina falls to 3-24 this season.
Quotables
What's Next?
UNC Asheville welcomes Presbyterian to Asheville, as the two clubs will square off in a three-game series beginning on Friday, April 6, at Greenwood Field.
The Bulldog win marked the fifth straight head-to-head victory over the Catamounts.
BULLDOG BITES
Highlights
After a quick first inning for both ball clubs, Western Carolina earned the first lead of the game, as the Catamounts struck for two runs with one out in the second inning.
The Bulldogs cut the deficit in half, as Lankford crushed a one-out solo home run over the right center field wall.
UNC Asheville starting pitcher Danny Wilson worked a 1-2-3 inning in the third frame, and the Bulldogs took advantage by taking their first lead of the game, 6-2, in the home half of the third inning. Joe Gruszka collected a single to the pitcher with the bases loaded to knot the game at 2-all. Jake Madole followed with a two-RBI double to right center, and Lankford capped off the five-run inning with a two-RBI single to center field.
After a scoreless fourth inning for both teams, WCU made it a three-run game, 6-3, as Cameron Blaquiere connected with a sacrifice fly to center.
The Bulldogs added a lone run in the bottom of the sixth frame, as Andrew Friedholm started the inning with a single. Chris Troost followed with a walk, and after a strikeout, a fielder's choice and a Joe Zayatz's stolen base, Carmine Pagano forced a fielding error, which allowed Friedholm to score to make the game 7-3.
In the top of the eighth, the Catamounts tried to start a rally, as they scored on a wild pitch.
After the late Catamount run, the Bulldogs matched with a run of their own, which was a sacrifice fly from Pagano.
Kole Harris came in to pitch for the Bulldogs in the final inning, and he worked a 1-2-3 frame to seal the 8-4 victory for UNC Asheville.
Lankford had a game-high three RBIs, as the sophomore was only a triple away from earning the cycle. He also earned a game-high three RBIs and a run scored.
Madole posted a two-hit game, which extends his hitting streak to six straight. In that stretch, he has posted four multi-hit contests. The redshirt sophomore also tallied a pair of RBIs and touched home once in the mid-week game. Harris rounded out the multi-hit performances for Asheville, as he poked a pair of singles. Troost had strong outing, as he earned a single, two runs and a pair of walks.
Wilson, who started his fourth game this season, earned his first win of the year. He worked five innings and scattered four hits and struck out three Catamounts. The four Bulldog relievers - Nick Boyles, Jordan Carr, Jordan Fulbright and Harris – closed the contest, as the foursome each twirled an inning of work. Boyles, Carr and Harris combined for no hits, no runs and no walks. Fulbright struck out three batters and allowed just one run.
With the mid-week victory, UNC Asheville advances to 8-20 overall, and Western Carolina falls to 3-24 this season.
Quotables
What's Next?
UNC Asheville welcomes Presbyterian to Asheville, as the two clubs will square off in a three-game series beginning on Friday, April 6, at Greenwood Field.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Wilson, Danny (1-1)
L: Corey Sikes (0-2)
Batting:
2B: Cameron Blaquiere 1 ; Matthew Koehler 1
RBI: Cameron Blaquiere 1 ; Matthew Koehler 1 ; Justin Sparks 1
SH: Spencer Holcomb 1
SF: Cameron Blaquiere 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Cameron Blaquiere 1 ; Justice Bigbie 1 ; Caleb Robinson 1 ; Will Prater 1
SB: Will Prater 1
HBP: Justin Sparks 1
PO: Bryson Parks 1
Batting:
2B: Zayatz, Joe 1 ; Madole, Jake 2 ; Lankford, Brandon 1
HR: Lankford, Brandon 1
RBI: Pagano, Carmine 1 ; Gruszka, Joe 1 ; Madole, Jake 2 ; Lankford, Brandon 3
SF: Pagano, Carmine 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Zayatz, Joe 1 ; Pagano, Carmine 1 ; Gruszka, Joe 1 ; Madole, Jake 1 ; Lankford, Brandon 1 ; Friedholm, Andrew 1 ; Troost, Chris 2
SB: Harris, Kole 1 ; Zayatz, Joe 1
CS: Zayatz, Joe 1
HBP: Zayatz, Joe 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
4
R
1
H
3
RBI
3
rf/p
AB
5
R
0
H
2
RBI
0
AB
4
R
1
H
2
RBI
2
AB
3
R
1
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
Right-Handed Pitcher
/ Baseball
Left-Handed Pitcher
/ Baseball
Catcher
/ Baseball
Left-Handed Pitcher
/ Baseball
Catcher/Utility
/ BaseballUtility/Right-Handed Pitcher
/ BaseballInfielder
/ BaseballInfielder
/ Baseball
Infielder
/ Baseball
Infielder
/ Baseball
Utility/Right-Handed Pitcher
/ 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