University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
Saturday, March 18
Charleston, SC
4 pm
UNC Asheville
10
at
11
Charleston Southern
Bulldogs fall in an 11-10 slugfest at Charleston Southern
03.18.2023 | Baseball
CHARLESTON, S.C. – The UNC Asheville baseball team fell in a high-scoring game at Charleston Southern on Saturday afternoon by a score of 11-10. With Saturday's setback, the Bulldogs moved to 12-6 overall and 0-2 in Big South action.
Cameron Johnson led the way for Asheville on Saturday. He matched a career-high with four hits in a 4-for-5 effort at the plate with a home run, two RBI, and three runs scored. Robbie Burnett and Dylan Bacot also had two-hit days against CSU, while Michael Groves and Kohl Abrams both hit home runs as well.
The Bulldogs wasted little time in getting into the run column on Saturday. After a leadoff walk from Ty Kaufman, Burnett drove him home with an RBI triple to stake Asheville to an early 1-0 lead.
Asheville would tack on two more runs in the top of the first and led the Buccaneers 3-0 before they took their first at-bats of the contest.
Charleston Southern would score one run in the bottom of the first and two more in the bottom of the fourth to make the score 4-3 Bulldogs.
Asheville would add to its lead in the fifth as Groves hit a long home run to right field with Johnson on base to push the Bulldog lead back out to three, 6-3.
Abrams would hit a solo home run, which was his first collegiate home run, in the sixth to make it 7-3 Asheville. However, the Buccaneers scored two runs in the bottom half to make the score 7-5 Bulldogs going into the late innings.
Following a scoreless seventh, there was plenty of offense in the final two innings. In the bottom of the eighth, Charleston Southern drew a pair of walks and then hit a three-run home run to put the Bulldogs behind, 8-7.
Asheville did not quit battling though. Burnett got on base with a one-out single in the top of the ninth. Burnett then scored all the way from first base thanks to a double from Bacot to tie the score at 8-8. The Bulldogs weren't done there as Johnson came through with a clutch two-run home run to put Asheville on top again, 10-8, going to the bottom of the ninth.
Charleston Southern's offense kept rolling though. The Buccaneers got a leadoff single and then a two-run home run followed to tie the game at 10-10. After the game-tying home run, CSU then notched another single and then moved the runner up to second base with a sacrifice bunt. To set up a potential double play, the Bulldogs intentionally walked the next hitter. An error by the Bulldogs and then a single finished off the win for the Buccaneers, 11-10.
Asheville and Charleston Southern will close out their series on Sunday. The first pitch between the Bulldogs and Buccaneers is set for 1 p.m. on ESPN+.
Cameron Johnson led the way for Asheville on Saturday. He matched a career-high with four hits in a 4-for-5 effort at the plate with a home run, two RBI, and three runs scored. Robbie Burnett and Dylan Bacot also had two-hit days against CSU, while Michael Groves and Kohl Abrams both hit home runs as well.
The Bulldogs wasted little time in getting into the run column on Saturday. After a leadoff walk from Ty Kaufman, Burnett drove him home with an RBI triple to stake Asheville to an early 1-0 lead.
Great start for the Bulldogs as Burnett drives in Kaufman with a RBI triple! #ALLinAVL #TTS pic.twitter.com/L61HfYV1Mb
— Asheville Baseball (@UNCAvlBaseball) March 18, 2023
Asheville would tack on two more runs in the top of the first and led the Buccaneers 3-0 before they took their first at-bats of the contest.
Charleston Southern would score one run in the bottom of the first and two more in the bottom of the fourth to make the score 4-3 Bulldogs.
Asheville would add to its lead in the fifth as Groves hit a long home run to right field with Johnson on base to push the Bulldog lead back out to three, 6-3.
A two-run blast from Michael Groves & the Bulldogs grow their lead back out to three, 6-3, in the fifth! #ALLinAVL #TTS pic.twitter.com/MvdMophhc5
— Asheville Baseball (@UNCAvlBaseball) March 18, 2023
Abrams would hit a solo home run, which was his first collegiate home run, in the sixth to make it 7-3 Asheville. However, the Buccaneers scored two runs in the bottom half to make the score 7-5 Bulldogs going into the late innings.
Following a scoreless seventh, there was plenty of offense in the final two innings. In the bottom of the eighth, Charleston Southern drew a pair of walks and then hit a three-run home run to put the Bulldogs behind, 8-7.
Asheville did not quit battling though. Burnett got on base with a one-out single in the top of the ninth. Burnett then scored all the way from first base thanks to a double from Bacot to tie the score at 8-8. The Bulldogs weren't done there as Johnson came through with a clutch two-run home run to put Asheville on top again, 10-8, going to the bottom of the ninth.
CAM GOES BAM! A two-run home run by Cameron Johnson puts Asheville back in front 10-8! Johnson is now 4-for-5 today with this clutch two-run blast! #ALLinAVL #TTS pic.twitter.com/SHrx8aRW1j
— Asheville Baseball (@UNCAvlBaseball) March 18, 2023
Charleston Southern's offense kept rolling though. The Buccaneers got a leadoff single and then a two-run home run followed to tie the game at 10-10. After the game-tying home run, CSU then notched another single and then moved the runner up to second base with a sacrifice bunt. To set up a potential double play, the Bulldogs intentionally walked the next hitter. An error by the Bulldogs and then a single finished off the win for the Buccaneers, 11-10.
Asheville and Charleston Southern will close out their series on Sunday. The first pitch between the Bulldogs and Buccaneers is set for 1 p.m. on ESPN+.
Players Mentioned
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