University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
Bulldogs bounce back with an 11-4 victory over North Carolina A&T to even the series
04.09.2022 | Baseball
The 11-run outburst by Asheville was fueled by production throughout the batting order. Seven different Bulldogs picked up hits, six drove in at least one run, and nine reached base successfully at least once. Dylan Bacot went 3-for-4 with three RBI and a run scored, and PJ Heintz finished Saturday with a 2-for-3 day with two RBI and a run scored to highlight the offensive leaders for Asheville.
The Bulldogs used just two pitchers in Saturday's win. Starter Ryan Douglas, who picked up his first win of the season, improving his record to 1-4, worked the first six innings allowing three runs (none earned) on seven hits and struck out five. Justin Honeycutt pitched the final three innings and notched the save after allowing one run (not earned) and two hits.
All of Asheville's run production came in two innings Saturday. First, in the second inning, A&T starter Jaheim Brown struggled with his control. After retiring the first two Bulldogs quickly, Brown hit Heintz with a pitch and allowed a single to Tylan Reece to suddenly spark a potential Bulldog rally. Brown then walked Ty Kaufman, Dominic Freeberger, and Robbie Burnett, with the latter two free passes forcing in runs to give Asheville an early 2-0 lead. Bacot then emptied the bases with a three-run double to stake Douglas to a 5-0 lead after two innings of play.
The other big inning for the Bulldogs came in the fourth inning. Kaufman and Burnett got things started with singles before Bacot walked to load the bases again. Michael Groves then drove in Kaufman and Burnett with a single to push Asheville's lead back to five after the Aggies scratched across a pair of unearned runs in the top half of the inning.A big three-run double by Bacot puts your Bulldogs up 5-0 & Asheville is still batting here in the second inning!#ALLinAVL #TTS pic.twitter.com/0VK3nev7Tb
— UNC Asheville Baseball (@UNCAvlBaseball) April 9, 2022
Cam Johnson then worked a walk to reload the bases. Pinch-hitter Grayson Preslar came through with a two-run double before Heintz lined a single to left to score two more runs to blow the game open, 11-2.
In addition to the two unearned runs in the fourth, A&T scored single runs in the sixth and eighth that were also unearned. It marks the third time this season that Asheville has not allowed an earned run in a game, with the other two coming against Niagara in late February.
Asheville will aim for the series victory tomorrow in the third and final game of the weekend at Greenwood Field. The first pitch for the series finale is set for 1 p.m. on ESPN+.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Douglas, Ryan (1-4)
L: BROWN, Jaheim (1-4)
S: Honeycutt, Justin (1)
Batting:
2B: BRANTLEY, Cameran 1
SH: MAYNARD, Cort 1
Base Running:
RUNS: JACKSON, Camden 3 ; BRANTLEY, Cameran 1

Batting:
2B: Bacot, Dylan 1 ; Preslar, Grayson 1
RBI: Freeberger, Dominic 1 ; Burnett, Robbie 1 ; Bacot, Dylan 3 ; Groves, Michael 2 ; Preslar, Grayson 2 ; Heintz, PJ 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Kaufman, Ty 2 ; Freeberger, Dominic 1 ; Burnett, Robbie 2 ; Bacot, Dylan 1 ; Groves, Michael 1 ; Johnson, Cameron 1 ; Preslar, Grayson 1 ; Heintz, PJ 1 ; Reece, Tylan 1
SB: Reece, Tylan 1
CS: Reece, Tylan 1
HBP: Freeberger, Dominic 1 ; Heintz, PJ 1