University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
UNC Asheville
14-14, 2-4
USC Upstate
14-15, 5-4
Bulldogs Take Series Finale 5-3 at USC Upstate on Sunday
03.29.2026 | Baseball
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The teams played a scoreless first inning, before USC Upstate took a two-run lead on a two-run home run in the second. After the teams traded scoreless frames in the third, Asheville would respond with four runs in the fourth to ultimately take the lead for good. Jake Minarik would jump-start the offense with a one-out single to center, before advancing to second on an errant pickoff attempt. Ben Green was hit by a pitch to put two runners on, before the second out was recorded. Zeb Swangim would put a ball in play that would allow him and both runners to reach safely, extending the inning for Coleman McGinnis. McGinnis would blast the 0-1 pitch over the left center field wall for his third career home run and first career grand slam to put Asheville ahead 4-2.
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The teams wouldn't score again until Upstate responded with one run in the bottom of the fifth to cut the lead to 4-3, before Asheville would score the game's final run in the top of the sixth when Minarik scored on a Tyler Parks groundout. The Asheville bullpen would hold Upstate off the board in the final four frames to take the win in the final game of the series.T4 | ColeMAN SLAM!
— Asheville Baseball (@UNCAvlBaseball) March 29, 2026
McGinnis's first long ball of the season is a grand slam to left center and we lead 4-2 heading to the bottom of the fourth!#ALLinAVL pic.twitter.com/Ojk67D0VDe
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Blaize Johnson and McGinnis each paced the offense with two hits in the game with both of McGinnis's hits each going for extra bases, while Patrick Gillen, Owen Michelson, Minarik, Green and Swangim each had one hit in the game. McGinnis registered a career-high four runs batted in in the game, while Parks also brought one run in. Minarik scored twice in the game, while Green, Swangim and McGinnis each scored once. Michelson also stole a base in the contest. Garrett Crum got the start for the Bulldogs going 4.1 innings allowing three runs on seven hits with one walk and six strikeouts, while Matthew Hall (3-0) picked up the win with 4.2 innings of solid relief. Hall scattered just two hits in a scoreless outing, walking four and punching out two in the win. Â
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The Bulldogs (14-14, 2-4 Big South Conference) return to action on Tuesday (Mar. 31) traveling to Appalachian State in non-conference action. First pitch is set for 6:00 p.m. from Boone, N.C. with video, live stats and tickets available at www.uncabulldogs.com. Â
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Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Hall, Matthew (3-0)
L: KIRBY, Jacob (3-1)
Batting:
2B: McGinnis, Coleman 1
HR: McGinnis, Coleman 1
RBI: Parks, Tyler 1 ; McGinnis, Coleman 4
Base Running:
RUNS: Minarik, Jake 2 ; Green, Ben 1 ; Swangim, Zeb 1 ; McGinnis, Coleman 1
SB: Michelson, Owen 1
CS: Green, Ben 1
HBP: Lowe, Logan 1 ; Michelson, Owen 1 ; Green, Ben 1
PO: Lowe, Logan 1
Batting:
2B: HEAGHNEY, Maloy 2
HR: LANG, Tyler 1 ; ARMSEY, Jake 1
RBI: LANG, Tyler 1 ; ARMSEY, Jake 2
Base Running:
RUNS: LANG, Tyler 1 ; HEAGHNEY, Maloy 1 ; ARMSEY, Jake 1
SB: BENTLEY, Trey 1 ; HEAGHNEY, Maloy 1
HBP: LANG, Tyler 1 ; WATERS, Wylie 1
