University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
UNC Asheville
12-10
Villanova
7-10
Early Offense Carries Bulldogs Past Villanova in Series Opener on Friday
03.20.2026 | Baseball
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 The Bulldogs started hot with five runs in the top of the first, with Logan Lowe leading off the game with a double to right before scoring on a Blaize Johnson single to left. Johnson advanced to second on a groundout, before scoring on a single to left by Ben Green. Jake Minarik would single to right to push Green to second, before Owen Michelson was hit by a pitch to load the bases with just one out. Eric Krumpe would draw a bases-loaded walk to score Green, before Zeb Swangim would single through the right side to score Minarik. Coleman McGinnis would bring home Michelson on a sacrifice fly to cap off the inning. After Villanova answered with two runs in the home half of the first, Asheville would put up another five spot to stretch the lead to 10-2. Johnson led off the inning being hit by a pitch, before Gillen singled to left center to push him to second. Green singled to right to load the bases, before Minarik brought two home with a single to left center. Michelson would reload the bases after a Villanova pitching change, before Green would score on a Krumpe sacrifice fly to right. Swangim would squeeze home Minarik for another run, before McGinnis drew a walk to keep the inning going. The lineup would turn over for Lowe, who would single to short to score Michelson to cap off the inning. Villanova would counter with one run in the bottom of the third, before Asheville would bring home another run in the fourth when Michelson blasted his first career home run to left center. Villanova would score another run in the fifth, before the teams would trade scoreless frames in the sixth and Asheville would score its final run in the seventh. Minarik would bring home Johnson on a single to right in the inning. Villanova would make things interesting with five runs in the eighth, before Drew Turner would come on to slam the door shut for his second save of the season.
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Asheville totaled a season-high 17 hits in the game, paced by a 4-5 day from Minarik including one double who drove in three runs and scored twice. Lowe went 3-6 in the game with a double, while Johnson also had three hits in the game. Gillen, Green and Swangim each had two hits in the game, while Michelson also had one. Gillen also stole one base in the game. Johnson and Michelson each scored three runs in the game, while Green and Minarik each scored twice and Lowe and Gillen each scored once. Krumpe and Swangim each drove in two runs, while Lowe, Johnson, Green, Michelson and McGinnis each drove in one run in the game. Lucas Boesen got the start for the Bulldogs, allowing three runs on five hits through 3.2 innings with three walks and three strikeouts. Daylinh Nugyen-Brown (2-2) earned the win in relief, allowing four runs on four hits through 3.1 innings with two walks and one strikeout. Ryland Howell, Branden Barna and Turner would combine to finish off the game, with Turner firing 1.2 hitless innings striking out the side in the ninth. The Bulldogs also turned a pair of double plays defensively in the game.
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The Bulldogs (12-10) return to action tomorrow (Mar. 21) for the middle game of the series. First pitch is set for 2:00 p.m. from Plymouth Meeting, Pa. with video and live stats available at www.uncabulldogs.com. Â
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Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Nguyen-Brown, Daylinh (2-2)
L: Jake Francis (0-3)
S: Turner, Drew (2)
Batting:
2B: Lowe, Logan 1 ; Johnson, Blaize 1 ; Minarik, Jake 1 ; Swangim, Zeb 1
HR: Michelson, Owen 1
RBI: Lowe, Logan 1 ; Johnson, Blaize 1 ; Green, Ben 1 ; Minarik, Jake 3 ; Michelson, Owen 1 ; Krumpe, Eric 2 ; Swangim, Zeb 2 ; McGinnis, Coleman 1
SH: Krumpe, Eric 1 ; Swangim, Zeb 1
SF: Gillen, Patrick 1 ; Krumpe, Eric 1 ; McGinnis, Coleman 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Lowe, Logan 1 ; Johnson, Blaize 3 ; Gillen, Patrick 1 ; Green, Ben 2 ; Minarik, Jake 2 ; Michelson, Owen 3
SB: Gillen, Patrick 1
CS: McGinnis, Coleman 1
HBP: Johnson, Blaize 1 ; Michelson, Owen 2
Batting:
2B: Brayden Leonard 1 ; Michael Whooley 1 ; Carter Richey 1 ; Larry Hotaling 1
RBI: Brayden Leonard 1 ; Michael Whooley 1 ; Collin Quintano 3 ; Carter Richey 1 ; Larry Hotaling 3
SF: Michael Whooley 1 ; Collin Quintano 1 ; Carter Richey 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Austin Lemon 1 ; Brayden Leonard 1 ; Michael Whooley 3 ; Carter Richey 1 ; Jack Roventini 1 ; Mark Giallusi 1 ; Larry Hotaling 1
SB: Michael Whooley 1 ; Jack Roventini 1
