University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
UNC Asheville
4-7
Western Carolina
6-5
Bulldogs Fall to Mountain Rival Western Carolina
03.06.2019 | Baseball
BULLDOG BITES
Highlights
Western Carolina opened the game with four runs via a grand slam from Luke Robinson.
Despite being down 4-0, UNC Asheville rattled off a pair of runs thanks to a RBI single from Brandon Lankford and run-scoring ground out from Danny Wilson.
WCU's Justin Bigbie connected with a two-run homer to pull ahead 6-2 in the top of the second.
The Bulldogs retaliated with a RBI ground out from Kole Harris, as the deficit was trimmed to three runs, 6-3.
Western Carolina rattled off six runs to take a 14-3 lead in the fifth inning.
Wilson plated Asheville's first run since the second inning, as the senior posted a RBI single in the home half of the fifth.
However, the Catamounts added two more insurance runs in the top of the sixth to pull ahead 16-4.
The Bulldogs had several chances to score in the final four innings but couldn't capitalize to end the game, 16-4.
Jake Madole went a perfect 3-for-3 to lead the Asheville offense. The redshirt junior connected with a pair of doubles and a single in the midweek tilt. He also walked and touched home once.
Chris Troost added another extra-base hit, as he smacked a double in two at-bats.
Dominic Freeberger posted a single, as he led the team with two runs scored.
Lankford finished the contest going 1-for-1 with a RBI.
The final three pitchers for Asheville – David Dobson, Trey Jernigan and Hunter Hoopes – all had solid innings of relief. All three Bulldogs offered an inning of scoreless relief. They only combined for three hits allowed and three strikeouts. Dobson had two of those strikeouts.
UNC Asheville falls to 4-7 on the season, and Western Carolina moves to 6-5 on the year.
What's Next?
The Bulldogs will travel to Statesboro, Ga. to face Georgia Southern for a three-game series March 8-10.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Joe Vranesic (1-0)
L: Gasparro, Greg (0-2)
Batting:
2B: Daylan Nanny 1 ; Matthew Koehler 1 ; Justice Bigbie 1 ; Luke Robinson 1 ; Immanuel Wilder 1
HR: Justice Bigbie 1 ; Luke Robinson 1
RBI: Justice Bigbie 5 ; Luke Robinson 6 ; Will Prater 1 ; Jalen Jones 2 ; Immanuel Wilder 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Daylan Nanny 3 ; Matthew Koehler 5 ; Justice Bigbie 3 ; Luke Robinson 2 ; Will Prater 1 ; Jalen Jones 1 ; Justin Sparks 1
SB: Matthew Koehler 1
CS: Justin Sparks 1
HBP: Bryson Parks 1 ; Matthew Koehler 1 ; Luke Robinson 1 ; Justin Sparks 1
Batting:
2B: Madole, Jake 2 ; Troost, Chris 1
RBI: Harris, Kole 1 ; Lankford, Brandon 1 ; Wilson, Danny 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Harris, Kole 1 ; Freeberger, Dominic 2 ; Madole, Jake 1
HBP: Lankford, Brandon 2 ; Pagano, Carmine 1
