University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
UNC Asheville
1-4
UMBC
1-1
UNC Asheville’s Offense Erupts for 21 Hits in Victory Over UMBC
02.23.2019 | Baseball
The three-run victory for UNC Asheville marked the program's 600th overall win.
BULLDOG BITES
Highlights
UNC Asheville took a three-run lead after the first two innings, as Danny Wilson and Chris Troost each hit home runs in back-to-back innings.
The Retrievers quickly made it a one-run game in the top of the third with a pair of runs scored.
The Bulldogs then tallied five unanswered runs for the next two innings to take an 8-2 lead in the top of the fifth. Joe Gruszka tallied a two-RBI double, and Greg Gasparro connected with a RBI double down the left field line. Dominic Freeberger ended the 5-0 run with a RBI single to right field.
After the Retrievers plated a run in the sixth, the Bulldogs plated three runs in the top of the sixth to take a commanding eight-run lead, 11-3.
However, UMBC started to claw its way back into the game, 11-7, as the Retrievers scored four runs in the top of the seventh inning.
Asheville again started to pull away with a six-run home half in the seventh to take a 17-7 lead with two innings left.
UMBC didn't surrender though, as it plated seven runs in the eighth to pull within three.
Asheville's sixth reliever of the game, Kole Harris, came into the finish the eighth and ninth innings en route to holding the Retrievers off the scoreboard and sealing the 17-14 win.
Asheville's offense was red hot on Saturday, as it compiled 21 hits. Seven of those hits went for extra-bases, including a pair of home runs.
Gasparro had a career day, as he posted a four-hit performance. He also plated three RBIs and touched home three times.
Gruszka also tallied a trio of hits and three RBIs en route to touching home twice.
Troost collected three hits of his own, as he totaled two singles and a solo homer. The junior touched home twice as well.
Freeberger rounded out the three-hit games for Asheville, as the rookie tallied three hits and three RBIs.
Wilson also had a strong outing, as the senior utility player posted two hits and walked twice. One of his hits was a two-run blast in the first frame.
Carmine Pagano also found his way into the hit column, as the shortstop posted two infield singles. The senior also touched home twice.
Trey Jernigan and Harris were the only relievers for the Bulldogs to not surrender a run. Jernigan worked 0.1 innings and struck out a Retriever, and Harris came in to close the game to earn his ninth career save and the first of the 2019 season.
With its first win of the year, UNC Asheville moves to 1-4, and UMBC falls to 1-1 in 2019.
What's Next?
Game three of the three-game series with UMBC will now start at 9:30 a.m. at the Big League Camp in Marion.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Edwards, Jacob (1-0)
L: Aaron Husson (0-1)
S: Harris, Kole (1)
Batting:
2B: Christian Torres 1
RBI: Andres Machado 2 ; Joey Goodwin 1 ; Christian Torres 2 ; Terrence Pinkston 2 ; Blaze O'Saben 1 ; Ethan Wentzlaff 3 ; Dmitri Floyd 1
Base Running:
RUNS: AJ Wright 1 ; Andres Machado 1 ; Joey Goodwin 2 ; Christian Torres 2 ; Raven Beeman 1 ; Chris Convers 1 ; Terrence Pinkston 2 ; Blaze O'Saben 1 ; Ethan Wentzlaff 1 ; Colin Casey 1 ; Dmitri Floyd 1
SB: Ethan Wentzlaff 1 ; Dmitri Floyd 1
HBP: Terrence Pinkston 1
PO: Terrence Pinkston 1
Batting:
2B: Gasparro, Greg 2 ; Lankford, Brandon 1 ; Gruszka, Joe 2
HR: Wilson, Danny 1 ; Troost, Chris 1
RBI: Gasparro, Greg 3 ; Freeberger, Dominic 3 ; Wilson, Danny 2 ; Gruszka, Joe 3 ; Pagano, Carmine 1 ; Chandler, Wade 1 ; Madole, Jake 1 ; Troost, Chris 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Gasparro, Greg 3 ; Freeberger, Dominic 1 ; Lankford, Brandon 3 ; Wilson, Danny 2 ; Gruszka, Joe 2 ; Pagano, Carmine 2 ; Chandler, Wade 1 ; Madole, Jake 1 ; Troost, Chris 2
CS: Chandler, Wade 1
HBP: Lankford, Brandon 1
PO: Cuozzi, Anthony 1
