University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
UNC Asheville
6-12, 1-1
USC Upstate
9-10, 1-1
Bulldogs Walk Off in Thrilling Extra-Inning Contest
03.16.2019 | Baseball
ASHEVILLE, N.C. – The UNC Asheville baseball team earned its first Big South Conference victory of the season on Saturday, 7-6, as the Bulldogs walked off on USC Upstate at Greenwood Field.
BULLDOG BITES
Highlights
The scoring opened in the top of the second, as the Spartans plated a trio of runs. Jason Matthews connected with a two-RBI single, and Austin Morgan scored on a wild pitch to give their team the lead.
Down 3-0, the Bulldogs quickly retaliated in the home half of the second, as redshirt junior Jake Madole unleashed on his second home run in the last two games. The designated hitter plated two RBIs, as Carmine Pagano reached base via a single earlier in the inning.
USC Upstate threatened to plate more runs in the top of the third, but UNC Asheville starting pitcher Blake Brown left two Spartans on base to keep the game 3-2.
In the top of the fourth inning, USC Upstate added an insurance run, as Drake Harris posted a RBI single to take the 4-2 lead.
Asheville made the deficit evaporate in the bottom of the fifth, as the Bulldogs posted four runs on four hits. Dominic Freeberger started the rally with a one-hit single to left. After a groundout, Brandon Lankford doubled to center to plate his teammate. After two wild pitches and a walk, Lankford and Danny Wilson found themselves in scoring position, and Pagano made it hurt, as he smacked a double down the left field line to give Asheville the 5-4 lead. Pagano swiped third base, and Madole brought in his teammate via a single to left to make the game 6-4.
The Spartans retaliated in the top of the seventh with a run make it a one-run game, 6-5.
After a scoreless seventh inning, USC Upstate tied the game at 6-all in the top the eighth via two Bulldog errors.
USC Upstate tried to pull ahead again in the top of the ninth, as a single and back-to-back hit by pitches forced the bases loaded with two outs. However, UNC Asheville reliever Kole Harris got out of the jam via an inning-ending groundout.
Greg Gasparro tried to start some two-out magic in the bottom of the ninth, but a groundout forced extra innings for the first time this season for UNC Asheville.
Upstate tried to pull ahead in the 10th, as Griffin Zito started the frame with a hit by pitch. Jake Bourke moved him into scoring position, but Harris posted back-to-back strikeouts to leave the runner in scoring position.
In home half of the inning, Lankford started the rally with a double deep to center field. After an intentional walk to Wilson, Pagano won Asheville the game, as he laid down a sacrifice bunt and forced the Upstate pitcher to throw the ball away. The throwing error allowed Lankford to touch home safely and give Asheville the 7-6 win.
Four Bulldogs had multi-hit performances - Gasparro, Madole, Pagano and Lankford.
Madole had a stellar day at the plate, as he smacked a two-run homer and a RBI single to help the Asheville offense. The redshirt junior finished the game 2-for-3 with a game-high three RBIs and a run scored. With his home run, Madole has now homered in two consecutive games.
Pagano was also superb, as he helped score the game-winning run. Overall the shortstop went 2-for-4 from the plate with two RBIs and two runs scored.
Lankford tallied two hits, two doubles, en route to collected a RBI and touching home twice.
Gasparro rounded out the multi-hit games for UNC Asheville. The utility player finished the contest with a pair of singles.
Wilson posted three at-bats, and he walked twice and scored once.
Brown finished the game going 3.2 innings and struck out four Spartans.
Eric Whitecavage worked 1.2 innings and allowed just one run.
Jacob Edwards also twirled 2.1 innings, and he scattered three hits and didn't allow an earned run. He also struck out a trio of Spartans.
Harris finished the game and earned the win. He moves to 1-2 on the year after his 2.1 innings on the hill. He allowed one hit, no runs and also struck out five.
With the win, UNC Asheville moves to 6-12 on the year and 1-1 in Big South games. USC Upstate falls to 9-10 on the season and 1-1 in league contests.
What's Next?
Sunday, March 17 will serve as the rubber match between the Bulldogs and Spartans. First pitch is slated for 1 p.m. at Greenwood Field.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Harris, Kole (1-2)
L: HUPP, Sean (1-2)
Batting:
2B: MATTHEWS, Jason 1 ; TAYLOR, Jeff 1
RBI: MATTHEWS, Jason 2 ; RIP, Julian 1 ; HARRIS, Drake 1
SH: RIP, Julian 1 ; BOURKE, Jake 1
Base Running:
RUNS: MATTHEWS, Jason 1 ; TAYLOR, Jeff 1 ; KIM, Andres 1 ; HARRIS, Drake 1 ; SHIMKO, J.J. 1 ; MORGAN, Austin 1
SB: HARRIS, Drake 1
HBP: HENNESSY, Jack 2 ; TAYLOR, Jeff 1 ; KIM, Andres 1 ; RIP, Julian 1 ; HARRIS, Drake 1 ; ZITO, Griffin 1
PO: McGAHA, Robby 1
Batting:
2B: Lankford, Brandon 2 ; Pagano, Carmine 1
HR: Madole, Jake 1
RBI: Lankford, Brandon 1 ; Pagano, Carmine 2 ; Madole, Jake 3
SH: Pagano, Carmine 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Freeberger, Dominic 1 ; Lankford, Brandon 2 ; Wilson, Danny 1 ; Pagano, Carmine 2 ; Madole, Jake 1
SB: Pagano, Carmine 1
HBP: Troost, Chris 1
