University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
Saturday, March 9
Statesboro, GA
2:00 PM
UNC Asheville
5-8
14
at
9
Georgia Southern
6-7
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
R
H
E
UNC Asheville
2
0
3
0
4
5
0
0
0
14
19
1
Georgia Southern
0
0
1
1
1
0
0
0
6
9
15
1
Lankford, Wilson Have Career Days in Big Road Win at Georgia Southern
03.09.2019 | Baseball
STATESBORO, Ga. – Behind a five-hit game from Danny Wilson and a six-RBI contest from Brandon Lankford, the UNC Asheville baseball team held on for a 14-9 road victory at Georgia Southern on Saturday.
BULLDOG BITES
Highlights
The UNC Asheville offense started early, as it posted three straight hits from Greg Gasparro, Dominic Freeberger and Joe Gruszka. Freeberger plated Asheville's first run on a double down the left field line to take a 1-0 lead. With a runner on third base, Wilson ripped a two-out double to center to take the early 2-0 advantage.
Bulldog starting pitcher Blake Brown held the Eagles scoreless in the first two innings to preserve the two-run lead.
The top of the lineup again exploded in the third inning, as Gasparro and Freeberger tallied back-to-back singles. After a strikeout, Lankford unleashed on a three-run homer to put the Bulldogs up by five, 5-0.
Georgia Southern plated its first run of the game in the home half of the third, as Martin posted a sacrifice fly.
After holding Asheville scoreless in the fourth inning, Georgia Southern added another run in the bottom of the fourth to make the game 5-2.
However, the Bulldog offense quickly retaliated with four runs in the fifth inning. Wilson connected with yet another double, as it plated both Lankford and Freeberger. Colin Macko smacked a double to right field to plate Wilson from second. To end the scoring in the fifth, Jake Madole connected with a two-out RBI single to take the commanding 9-2 lead.
The Eagles added a lone run to cut the deficit to six in the bottom of the fifth.
The UNC Asheville offense didn't end there, as it rattled off five more runs to take the 11-run lead (14-3). Highlighting the sixth inning for the Bulldogs was Lankford drilling his second home run of the game and his sixth of the 2019 season. Also adding to the five-run inning was Chris Troost posting a two-out, two-RBI single.
Jacob Edwards was Asheville's first reliever, and he held Georgia Southern scoreless in the sixth and seventh innings. The freshman held the Eagles to only one hit in two innings of work.
Trey Jernigan pitched the eighth inning for the Bulldogs, and the sophomore twirled a 1-2-3 inning.
However, the Eagles didn't surrender, as they posted five hits and six runs to trim the deficit to five, 14-9, but the Bulldogs held on the claim the road win.
Asheville's offense was lights out, as it totaled 19 hits. Of those hits, six went for extra-bases (four doubles and two home runs).
Junior third baseman Lankford had a career day, as he posted six RBIs on three hits. Two those hits were home runs, which marked the second time this year he has had a multi-home run game.
Wilson was equally unstoppable, as the utility player went a perfect 5-for-5 with three RBIs and two runs scored. Of his five hits, two were doubles and three were singles.
Also joining the Bulldog duo with three or more hits was Gasparro. The utility player tallied three singles in the leadoff spot and also touched home three times.
Rookie Freeberger rounded out the multi-hit performances for the Bulldogs, as he collected two hits. He finished the game with a double, a RBI and three runs scored.
Macko was the final Bulldog with an extra-base hit, as he smacked a double.
Troost was the third Bulldog with multiple RBIs, as he finished with a pair.
On the hill, Brown was impressive in five innings of work. He allowed just one walk and three earned runs en route to his second win of the season. He also struck out seven Eagles.
Edwards was dominant, as the rookie utility player twirled two innings of one-hit ball. He didn't allow a hit and struck out one.
In his one inning of relief, Jernigan held Georgia Southern hitless and scoreless.
Kole Harris closed the game, as he earned his third save of the season and 11th of his career.
UNC Asheville advances to 5-8 on the year, and Georgia Southern falls to 6-7 on the season.
What's Next?
UNC Asheville and Georgia Southern will conclude its three-game series on Sunday, as first pitch is set for 1 p.m. in Statesboro.
BULLDOG BITES
Highlights
The UNC Asheville offense started early, as it posted three straight hits from Greg Gasparro, Dominic Freeberger and Joe Gruszka. Freeberger plated Asheville's first run on a double down the left field line to take a 1-0 lead. With a runner on third base, Wilson ripped a two-out double to center to take the early 2-0 advantage.
Bulldog starting pitcher Blake Brown held the Eagles scoreless in the first two innings to preserve the two-run lead.
The top of the lineup again exploded in the third inning, as Gasparro and Freeberger tallied back-to-back singles. After a strikeout, Lankford unleashed on a three-run homer to put the Bulldogs up by five, 5-0.
Georgia Southern plated its first run of the game in the home half of the third, as Martin posted a sacrifice fly.
After holding Asheville scoreless in the fourth inning, Georgia Southern added another run in the bottom of the fourth to make the game 5-2.
However, the Bulldog offense quickly retaliated with four runs in the fifth inning. Wilson connected with yet another double, as it plated both Lankford and Freeberger. Colin Macko smacked a double to right field to plate Wilson from second. To end the scoring in the fifth, Jake Madole connected with a two-out RBI single to take the commanding 9-2 lead.
The Eagles added a lone run to cut the deficit to six in the bottom of the fifth.
The UNC Asheville offense didn't end there, as it rattled off five more runs to take the 11-run lead (14-3). Highlighting the sixth inning for the Bulldogs was Lankford drilling his second home run of the game and his sixth of the 2019 season. Also adding to the five-run inning was Chris Troost posting a two-out, two-RBI single.
Jacob Edwards was Asheville's first reliever, and he held Georgia Southern scoreless in the sixth and seventh innings. The freshman held the Eagles to only one hit in two innings of work.
Trey Jernigan pitched the eighth inning for the Bulldogs, and the sophomore twirled a 1-2-3 inning.
However, the Eagles didn't surrender, as they posted five hits and six runs to trim the deficit to five, 14-9, but the Bulldogs held on the claim the road win.
Asheville's offense was lights out, as it totaled 19 hits. Of those hits, six went for extra-bases (four doubles and two home runs).
Junior third baseman Lankford had a career day, as he posted six RBIs on three hits. Two those hits were home runs, which marked the second time this year he has had a multi-home run game.
Wilson was equally unstoppable, as the utility player went a perfect 5-for-5 with three RBIs and two runs scored. Of his five hits, two were doubles and three were singles.
Also joining the Bulldog duo with three or more hits was Gasparro. The utility player tallied three singles in the leadoff spot and also touched home three times.
Rookie Freeberger rounded out the multi-hit performances for the Bulldogs, as he collected two hits. He finished the game with a double, a RBI and three runs scored.
Macko was the final Bulldog with an extra-base hit, as he smacked a double.
Troost was the third Bulldog with multiple RBIs, as he finished with a pair.
On the hill, Brown was impressive in five innings of work. He allowed just one walk and three earned runs en route to his second win of the season. He also struck out seven Eagles.
Edwards was dominant, as the rookie utility player twirled two innings of one-hit ball. He didn't allow a hit and struck out one.
In his one inning of relief, Jernigan held Georgia Southern hitless and scoreless.
Kole Harris closed the game, as he earned his third save of the season and 11th of his career.
UNC Asheville advances to 5-8 on the year, and Georgia Southern falls to 6-7 on the season.
What's Next?
UNC Asheville and Georgia Southern will conclude its three-game series on Sunday, as first pitch is set for 1 p.m. in Statesboro.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Brown, Blake (2-0)
L: Braden Hays (0-3)
S: Harris, Kole (3)
Batting:
2B: Freeberger, Dominic 1 ; Wilson, Danny 2 ; Macko, Colin 1
HR: Lankford, Brandon 2
RBI: Freeberger, Dominic 1 ; Lankford, Brandon 6 ; Wilson, Danny 3 ; Macko, Colin 1 ; Madole, Jake 1 ; Troost, Chris 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Gasparro, Greg 3 ; Freeberger, Dominic 3 ; Gruszka, Joe 1 ; Lankford, Brandon 3 ; Wilson, Danny 2 ; Pagano, Carmine 1 ; Macko, Colin 1
HBP: Madole, Jake 1
Batting:
2B: Noah Ledford 1
RBI: Steven Curry 1 ; Tyler Martin 2 ; Austin Thompson 1 ; Jason Swan 2 ; Chandler Davis 1 ; Nolan Tressler 1
SF: Tyler Martin 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Steven Curry 1 ; Tyler Martin 1 ; Noah Ledford 1 ; Austin Thompson 2 ; Noah Searcy 1 ; Jason Swan 1 ; Matt Anderson 1 ; Chandler Davis 1
SB: Blake Evans 1
HBP: Noah Searcy 1
Game Leaders
AB
5
R
2
H
5
RBI
3
AB
4
R
3
H
3
RBI
0
AB
6
R
3
H
3
RBI
6
lf/2b
AB
5
R
3
H
2
RBI
1
Players Mentioned
Right-Handed Pitcher
/ Baseball
Left-Handed Pitcher/Outfielder
/ BaseballInfielder/Right-Handed Pitcher
/ BaseballLeft-Handed Pitcher/Outfielder
/ Baseball
Catcher/Utility
/ Baseball
Utility/Right-Handed Pitcher
/ Baseball
Right-Handed Pitcher
/ BaseballInfielder
/ Baseball
Infielder/Outfielder
/ Baseball
Infielder
/ Baseball
Infielder
/ BaseballUtility/Right-Handed Pitcher
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