University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
Friday, May 14
Boiling Springs, NC
5:00 PM
UNC Asheville
at
Gardner-Webb
Photo by: Mark Godin
Bulldogs Wrap Up Road Schedule with Three Games at Gardner-Webb
05.13.2021 | Baseball
ASHEVILLE, N.C. – The UNC Asheville baseball team will head out on the road for the final time in the regular season this weekend as it travels to Gardner-Webb for a three-game series. The two teams will play a single game Friday evening beginning at 5 p.m. before playing a doubleheader Saturday starting at 1 p.m.
Last Time Out – The Bulldogs dropped a close 7-6 decision to USC Upstate last Tuesday at home. With the loss, Asheville's conference record moved to 14-20 on the 2021 campaign.
Success Away from Home – A couple of the Bulldogs have racked up some stellar numbers this season away from Greenwood Field. Brandon Lankford paces the hitters with a .322 batting average with 12 home runs and 19 RBI. Among the Bulldog pitchers, Blake Little has posted a 2.08 ERA covering 8.2 innings and has held opposing hitters to a .207 batting average at their home ballparks.
Three Away from History – With six games to go in the regular season, Lankford is still chasing down a pair of prestigious home run records. Lankford, who has the third-most home runs (16) of any player this season, needs to go deep just three more times to match Asheville's single-season home run record of 19 by Brian Shehan set back in 1989 and break the all-time Big South home run record surpassing Jason Colson's (Winthrop) 53.
Freeberger on a Fine Hitting Streak – Dominic Freeberger has been one of Asheville's top hitters all season long, but he has been especially hot at the plate recently. In his last 10 games, Freeberger is hitting .375 in 40 at-bats with five runs scored, four doubles, four RBI, one triple, and one home run. Additionally, Freeberger has enjoyed hitting off of Gardner-Webb in 2021 as he enters this weekend's series hitting .429 against the Runnin' Bulldog pitching staff in the previous two matchups.
PJ Providing a Spark – After missing more than a month due to injury, PJ Heintz returned to the lineup last week and has provided a spark. Since his return, Heintz is hitting .417 in 12 at-bats with a pair of doubles and two RBI.
Turning Two a Ton – In 2021, Asheville has been one of the best teams this season at turning double plays. The Bulldogs have turned two a total of 32 times in 2021, which ranks second in the Big South and 57th nationally. Only Campbell (35 double plays turned) have totaled more double plays than Asheville this season.
About Gardner-Webb – The Runnin' Bulldogs enter this weekend's series sitting in third place in the Big South standings with a record of 22-11 and a 23-19 record overall. Offensively, Gardner-Webb has a powerful lineup with a total of 48 home runs in 42 games in 2021. On the pitching side, Mason Miller paces the GWU staff with a record of 5-1, an ERA of 2.88, and 88 strikeouts in 72 innings pitched.
Against GWU in 2021 – Asheville and Gardner-Webb have already matched up twice during the 2021 season. GWU, which has won both meetings, knocked off Asheville by a score of 15-4 on April 20 and 6-3 on March 23 at Greenwood Field.
Last Time Out – The Bulldogs dropped a close 7-6 decision to USC Upstate last Tuesday at home. With the loss, Asheville's conference record moved to 14-20 on the 2021 campaign.
Success Away from Home – A couple of the Bulldogs have racked up some stellar numbers this season away from Greenwood Field. Brandon Lankford paces the hitters with a .322 batting average with 12 home runs and 19 RBI. Among the Bulldog pitchers, Blake Little has posted a 2.08 ERA covering 8.2 innings and has held opposing hitters to a .207 batting average at their home ballparks.
Three Away from History – With six games to go in the regular season, Lankford is still chasing down a pair of prestigious home run records. Lankford, who has the third-most home runs (16) of any player this season, needs to go deep just three more times to match Asheville's single-season home run record of 19 by Brian Shehan set back in 1989 and break the all-time Big South home run record surpassing Jason Colson's (Winthrop) 53.
Freeberger on a Fine Hitting Streak – Dominic Freeberger has been one of Asheville's top hitters all season long, but he has been especially hot at the plate recently. In his last 10 games, Freeberger is hitting .375 in 40 at-bats with five runs scored, four doubles, four RBI, one triple, and one home run. Additionally, Freeberger has enjoyed hitting off of Gardner-Webb in 2021 as he enters this weekend's series hitting .429 against the Runnin' Bulldog pitching staff in the previous two matchups.
PJ Providing a Spark – After missing more than a month due to injury, PJ Heintz returned to the lineup last week and has provided a spark. Since his return, Heintz is hitting .417 in 12 at-bats with a pair of doubles and two RBI.
Turning Two a Ton – In 2021, Asheville has been one of the best teams this season at turning double plays. The Bulldogs have turned two a total of 32 times in 2021, which ranks second in the Big South and 57th nationally. Only Campbell (35 double plays turned) have totaled more double plays than Asheville this season.
About Gardner-Webb – The Runnin' Bulldogs enter this weekend's series sitting in third place in the Big South standings with a record of 22-11 and a 23-19 record overall. Offensively, Gardner-Webb has a powerful lineup with a total of 48 home runs in 42 games in 2021. On the pitching side, Mason Miller paces the GWU staff with a record of 5-1, an ERA of 2.88, and 88 strikeouts in 72 innings pitched.
Against GWU in 2021 – Asheville and Gardner-Webb have already matched up twice during the 2021 season. GWU, which has won both meetings, knocked off Asheville by a score of 15-4 on April 20 and 6-3 on March 23 at Greenwood Field.
Players Mentioned
INF/OF
/ Baseball
INF
/ Baseball
RHP
/ BaseballHighlights || Baseball || UNC Asheville vs Presbyterian (Game 3)
Tuesday, May 28
Highlights || Baseball || UNC Asheville at Presbyterian (Game 2)
Tuesday, May 28
Highlights || Baseball || UNC Asheville at Presbyterian (Game 1)
Tuesday, May 28
Highlights || Baseball || UNC Asheville vs Gardner-Webb (Game 3)
Monday, May 13