University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
UNC Asheville
11-15, 0
Longwood
7-20, 0
Bulldogs Sweep Longwood Out Of Asheville
03.31.2019 | Baseball
ASHEVILLE, N.C. – Behind nine total runs in the fifth and sixth innings, the UNC Asheville baseball team claimed the conference series sweep over Longwood, as the Bulldogs upended the Lancers, 11-8, on Sunday at Greenwood Field.
The conference sweep for UNC Asheville was its first since the 2012 season when the Bulldogs swept High Point on the road in early May.
BULLDOG BITES
Highlights
Longwood opened the game with two runs in the first two innings. Carlos Garrido connected with a two-RBI single in the first, while Jacob Mitchell and Eli Mercado each touched home in the second frame.
The Bulldogs cut the deficit in half in the third off a hit and three walks. Chris Troost singled to start the rally, and Andrew Friedholm, Jacob Edwards and Dominic Freeberger followed with three straight walks to score Troost. Jake Madole flew out for a sacrifice fly to make it a two-run game, 4-2.
The Lancers made up those two runs in the top of the fourth with two run-scoring hits from Antwaun Tucker and Hunter Gilliam.
UNC Asheville's offense broke through in the fifth, as it plated five runs en route to gaining its first lead of the game - 7-6. Andrew Friedholm smacked a leadoff homer off the left field foul pole. After a Edwards single and a pair of walks from Freeberger and Madole, Brandon Lankford put the ball in play to score Edwards from third. One batter later, Danny Wilson gave Asheville its first lead of the game, as the junior uncorked on a three-run homer to left. It was his fourth home run of the season.
Longwood tied the game an inning later at 7-7, as Tucker scored an unearned run following his triple to left center.
The Bulldogs again used a big sixth inning to take the lead back from the Lancers, 11-7. With two outs, Wilson, Anthony Cuozzi and Carmine Pagano each tallied RBI hits to amount for the four-run sixth inning for Asheville.
After a scoreless seventh frame for both squads, Longwood added a run in the eighth to make it a three-run contest, 11-8. However, Kole Harris came in to close the game and held the Lancers scoreless en route to his sixth save of the season and 14th of his career.
Danny Wilson was again a force at the plate, as he finished with a pair of hits. One of those hits was a three-run blast in the sixth inning. The utility player finished with four RBIs and two runs scored. He also walked once.
Freeberger also had a multi-hit game with a pair of base knocks. He also added a RBI and a run scored.
Cuozzi came in clutch in the four-run sixth inning, as the sophomore totaled two RBIs off a single.
The 2-3-4-5 hitters for Asheville combined for seven RBIs and six runs scored.
As a team, UNC Asheville walked nine times.
JP Perez was Asheville's third reliever, and the freshman worked 1.2 innings and didn't allow a hit or run. He also struck out one.
Ethan Tressler received the victory after pitching just 0.1 innings.
Blake Brown, Austin Fahr and Harris closed out the final three innings for Asheville, and the trio each had one strikeout and only allowed one run in total.
With the conference sweep, UNC Asheville advances to 11-15 overall and 6-3 in Big South games. Longwood falls to 7-20 on the year and 2-7 in league contests.
What's Next?
The Bulldogs will travel to Charlotte, N.C. for a midweek contest versus UNC Charlotte on Tuesday, April 2. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Tressler, Ethan (1-1)
L: LONGABAUGH, Josh (1-2)
S: Harris, Kole (6)
Batting:
2B: TUCKER, Antwaun 1 ; CRAIN, Eric 1
3B: TUCKER, Antwaun 1
HR: BLAKENEY, Nate 1
RBI: TUCKER, Antwaun 2 ; GILLIAM, Hunter 1 ; GARRIDO, Carlos 2 ; BLAKENEY, Nate 1
Base Running:
RUNS: TUCKER, Antwaun 3 ; KELLER, Grant 1 ; BLAKENEY, Nate 1 ; MITCHELL, Jacob 2 ; MERCADO, Eli 1
SB: TUCKER, Antwaun 3 ; KELLER, Grant 1 ; MITCHELL, Jacob 1 ; MERCADO, Eli 1
CS: MCALLISTER, Jawan 1
HBP: MITCHELL, Jacob 1
PO: CARTER, Scott 1
Batting:
2B: Freeberger, Dominic 1
HR: Wilson, Danny 1 ; Friedholm, Andrew 1
RBI: Freeberger, Dominic 1 ; Madole, Jake 1 ; Lankford, Brandon 1 ; Wilson, Danny 4 ; Cuozzi, Anthony 2 ; Pagano, Carmine 1 ; Friedholm, Andrew 1
SF: Madole, Jake 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Edwards, Jacob 2 ; Freeberger, Dominic 1 ; Madole, Jake 1 ; Lankford, Brandon 2 ; Wilson, Danny 2 ; Troost, Chris 1 ; Friedholm, Andrew 2
SB: Edwards, Jacob 1
