University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
UNC Asheville
9-15, 4-3
Longwood
7-18, 2-5
Seven-Run Sixth Inning Gives UNC Asheville Series-Opening Victory
03.29.2019 | Baseball
ASHEVILLE, N.C. – Behind seven runs in the sixth inning, the UNC Asheville baseball team claimed a series-opening victory over Longwood, 11-8, on Friday night at Greenwood Field.
The Bulldogs used strong relief outings and collected 14 total hits en route to the three-run win.
BULLDOG BITES
Highlights
Longwood opened the conference series with two runs in the first inning, as Hunter Gilliam smacked a one-out, two-run homer to center.
The Bulldogs quickly answered in the home half to knot the game at 2-2. Greg Gasparro opened the frame with a single to right. Dominic Freeberger walked on five pitches to put two Bulldogs on base. Jake Madole made it hurt, as he smacked a double to left field. The extra-base knock plated two RBIs to tie the game. UNC Asheville had chances to add to the lead, but the Lancers recorded three straight outs.
After a scoreless inning for both teams in the second, Longwood added to its lead via a Grant Keller two-RBI double in the third inning. The run-scoring hit pushed the Lancer lead to 4-2.
UNC Asheville tried to retaliate in the bottom of the same frame but left two Bulldogs stranded.
Longwood added to its lead, as it plated three runs in the fourth inning. Antwaun Tucker, Carlos Garrido and Nate Blakeney each posted RBI hits to push the lead to 7-2.
The Bulldogs cut into the deficit in the fourth with a run. PJ Heintz connected with a RBI single to right center, which made the game 7-3. The Bulldogs again had a chance to plate more runs but left a pair on base.
Neither team added runs in the fifth inning, but UNC Asheville's offense exploded for seven runs in the sixth to gain its first lead of the game. Joe Gruszka, Chris Troost and Heintz all reached base safely to start the inning, and Gasparro walked with the bases loaded to make it a 7-4 deficit. Freeberger followed with a RBI single to keep the bases loaded. After a pitching change, Madole roped another two-RBI hit to knot the game at 7-all. UNC Asheville gained its first lead of the game, 8-7, with a bases-loaded wild pitch, and Danny Wilson extended the lead to three runs with a two-run double down the left field line.
Each team traded a run in the eighth inning to make the game, 11-8, in favor of Asheville.
Kole Harris came in to pitch the ninth, and he went 1-2-3 with a strikeout to earn his fifth save of the year and the 13th of his career.
Trey Jernigan earned the victory, as the sophomore was excellent on the bump. He worked three innings and didn't allow an earned run. He allowed just one hit and struck out a pair of Lancers.
Blake Brown totaled five strikeouts in two innings of work. He scattered three hits and allowed one run.
Offensively, UNC Asheville pounded 14 hits en route to 11 runs of offense. Seven of those runs came in the sixth inning.
Five Bulldogs posted multi-hit games, and seven of the nine Bulldog starters collected at least one hit.
Joe Gruszka had a team-high three hits, which were all singles.
Madole was phenomenal at the plate, as he finished the game going 2-for-5. He collected clutch hits, both doubles, en route to a game-high four RBIs. He also touched home once.
Wilson also shined at the plate, as he collected two hits, two RBIs and a pair of doubles. He also touched home once.
Gasparro and Heintz were the other two Bulldogs with multiple hits, as they each totaled two hits and a RBI.
Gasparro and Lankford walked three times each to lead the Bulldogs in the category.
With the win, UNC Asheville moves to 9-15 overall and 4-3 in Big South games. Longwood falls to 7-18 on the year and 2-5 in league contests.
What's Next?
Game two of the Bulldog-Lancer series is set for Saturday, March 30. First pitch is slated for 3 p.m. at Greenwood Field.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Jernigan, Trey (1-0)
L: GOLNICK, Bryan (0-2)
S: Harris, Kole (5)
Batting:
2B: TUCKER, Antwaun 1 ; KELLER, Grant 1
HR: GILLIAM, Hunter 1
RBI: TUCKER, Antwaun 1 ; GILLIAM, Hunter 3 ; GARRIDO, Carlos 1 ; KELLER, Grant 2
Base Running:
RUNS: TUCKER, Antwaun 2 ; MCALLISTER, Jawan 1 ; GILLIAM, Hunter 2 ; BLAKENEY, Nate 1 ; PITTS, De'Andre 2
SB: TUCKER, Antwaun 1 ; MCALLISTER, Jawan 1
HBP: MCALLISTER, Jawan 1 ; PITTS, De'Andre 1
PO: GARRIDO, Carlos 1
Batting:
2B: Madole, Jake 2 ; Wilson, Danny 2
RBI: Gasparro, Greg 1 ; Freeberger, Dominic 1 ; Madole, Jake 4 ; Wilson, Danny 2 ; Heintz, PJ 1
SH: Pagano, Carmine 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Gasparro, Greg 2 ; Freeberger, Dominic 2 ; Madole, Jake 1 ; Lankford, Brandon 1 ; Wilson, Danny 1 ; Gruszka, Joe 1 ; Pagano, Carmine 1 ; Troost, Chris 1 ; Heintz, PJ 1
SB: Gasparro, Greg 2
CS: Madole, Jake 1 ; Gruszka, Joe 1
PO: Madole, Jake 1
