University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
UNC Asheville
20-15, 0
USC Upstate
23-14, 0
Bulldogs Outlast USC Upstate, 10-7, to Claim Series Win
04.16.2023 | Baseball
ASHEVILLE, N.C. – The UNC Asheville baseball team defeated USC Upstate by a score of 10-7 on Sunday at Greenwood Field to claim the series victory. With Sunday's win, the Bulldogs improved to 20-15 overall and 7-8 in Big South action.
The 10-run outburst on Sunday, which marks the 13th time this season that the Bulldogs have scored 10 or more runs in a game, had plenty of contributors as every Bulldog in the starting lineup reached base at least once. Michael Groves matched a career-high with four hits on Sunday on a 4-for-5 outing at the plate with two runs scored. The duo of Ty Kaufman and Kohl Abrams both had two hits and drew a walk as well, while Robbie Burnett collected his fifth multi-hit performance in his last six games with a 2-for-4 day with two runs scored against the Spartans. Cameron Johnson drove in a pair of runs, while Corbin Lanowitz scored two runs to round out the offensive leaders for Asheville.
Like in Saturday's win, Asheville used just two pitchers on Sunday. Clay Edmondson started the game and worked the first five innings. Edmondson, who ended up getting a no-decision on Sunday, allowed five runs on seven hits and struck out three. Bryce Fisher collected the win in relief of Edmondson after tossing four innings, allowing two runs (one earned) and striking out three. With Sunday's win, Fisher improves to 2-2 on the season.
Sunday's game saw plenty of lead changes between the Bulldogs and Spartans. Upstate would strike first with a run in the first, but the Bulldogs answered back with two runs in the bottom half. The Spartans regained the lead with two more runs in the second before the Bulldogs did the same with two runs in the fourth. Upstate scored two more runs off Edmondson in the top of the fifth to once again put them in front, 5-4.
Fisher came in to relieve Edmondson and he threw three shutout innings to give Asheville an opportunity to come back yet again. Asheville would get the lead back with two runs in the seventh. The Bulldogs added some extra cushion with four runs in the eighth to move the score to 10-5. Asheville batted around in the four-run eighth inning that included a single by Burnett, a double by Groves, and a two-run single by Abrams.
Upstate broke through against Fisher and the Bulldogs with two runs in the top of the ninth, but Asheville would hold on for the 10-7 win. Sunday's win over USC Upstate is Asheville's 20th of the season. In comparison, the Bulldogs did not record their 20th win last season until May 21.
Next up for Asheville will be a four-game road swing. The road swing for Asheville will begin on Tuesday when it visits Appalachian State in non-conference action. First pitch is set for 6 p.m. on ESPN+.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Fisher, Bryce (2-2)
L: CONSAUL, Braden (0-1)
Batting:
2B: HAMILTON, Troy 1
RBI: HENINGTON, Kyle 1 ; CARUSO, Cole 1 ; SHERROD, Grant 2 ; CULLISON, Easton 1 ; TILSON, Ty 2
SH: HAMILTON, Troy 1 ; PEREIRA, David 1
SF: CULLISON, Easton 1
Base Running:
RUNS: HENINGTON, Kyle 1 ; CARUSO, Cole 1 ; HAMILTON, Troy 2 ; SHERROD, Grant 1 ; SWEENEY, Johnny 1 ; HOLGUIN, Al 1
SB: SHERROD, Grant 1
CS: HENINGTON, Kyle 1
HBP: HENINGTON, Kyle 1
Batting:
2B: Burnett, Robbie 1 ; Groves, Michael 1
RBI: Lanowitz, Corbin 1 ; Johnson, Cameron 2 ; Osio, Fermin 1 ; Abrams, Kohl 2
SH: Osio, Fermin 1
SF: Johnson, Cameron 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Kaufman, Ty 1 ; Burnett, Robbie 2 ; Bacot, Dylan 1 ; Lanowitz, Corbin 2 ; Johnson, Cameron 1 ; Groves, Michael 2 ; Bristow , Drew 1
SB: Kaufman, Ty 1 ; Burnett, Robbie 2
HBP: Burnett, Robbie 1 ; Bacot, Dylan 1 ; Osio, Fermin 1
