University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
Saturday, April 25
Asheville, NC
11 AM
UNC Asheville
17-26, 5-9
13
vs
8
Charleston Southern
23-18, 8-9
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Runs R | Hits H | Errors E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charleston Southern | 0 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 11 | 2 |
| UNC Asheville | 0 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 0 | X | 13 | 13 | 1 |
Blaize Johnson Notches 100th Career Hit as Baseball Splits Sunday Action with Charleston Southern
04.26.2026 | Baseball
ASHEVILLE, N.C. - Sophomore outfielder Blaize Johnson notched his 100th career hit as UNC Asheville Baseball split its Sunday (Apr. 26) Big South Conference action with visiting Charleston Southern, with Asheville winning the resumption of yesterday's game 13-8 before dropping the rubber game 19-16 in 10 innings.
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Resumption of Saturday's Game
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Play picked up at the start of the top of the sixth with Asheville leading 9-7. The Bulldogs turned to Cooper Smith, who stranded a man at third in the top of the sixth before the Bulldogs pulled away in the game with four runs in the bottom of the sixth. Logan Lowe began the inning with a single up the middle, before stealing second and advancing to third on a ball off the bat of Jake Pereira that resulted in a Charleston Southern error on the infield. Patrick Gillen singled up the middle to score Lowe and push Pereira to second, before both runners moved up on a wild pitch. Johnson was intentionally walked to load the bases, before Owen Michelson reached on a fielder's choice that allowed Pereira to score. The Bulldogs then executed a nice double steal with Gillen scoring and Michelson taking second, before Eric Krumpe would single up the middle to score Michelson to cap off the inning. Charleston Southern would finally scratch a run across against Smith in the ninth, but the Bulldogs were able to rally after play was suspended for the victory.
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Krumpe, Jake Minarik, Tyler Parks and Lowe each had two hits in the game in total, while Gillen, Johnson, Michelson, Zeb Swangim and Pereira each had one hit in the contest. Gillen, Johnson, Parks and Pereira each scored twice in the game, while Michelson, Krumpe, Minarik, Lowe and Swangim each scored two runs in the game. Michelson drove in a career-high four runs in the game, while Swangim posted two RBI and Gillen, Johnson, Krumpe, Minarik and Pereira each drove in one run. Gillen, Michelson and Lowe each stole a base in the game. Drew Turner (4-6) ultimately collected the win in the game allowing seven runs, four earned on seven hits through five innings in the contest with three walks and four strikeouts. Smith picked up his first save as a Bulldog with four innings of relief, allowing one run while scattering four hits with two walks and two strikeouts. The Bulldog defense also turned one double play in the game.
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Sunday's Game
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Charleston Southern started the game in a big way, putting up six runs in the top of the first. Asheville would respond with three runs in the bottom of the first, with the inning starting with Gillen ripping a single up the middle before later stealing second with one out. Michelson would draw a walk before the second out, before Minarik would step to the plate and deliver a laser into the left center gap to score both runners and get Asheville on the board. Parks would rip the first pitch he saw back up the middle to score Minarik as the Bulldogs cut the deficit in half in the frame. Asheville would get back within 6-4 with one run in the second, with Swangim coming home on an infield single off the bat of Johnson. The teams would trade scoreless frames in the third, before Asheville would get within 6-5 with one run in the fourth when Johnson's 100th career hit was a double to the left field wall that brought home Swangim. After Branden Barna hung a fourth straight scoreless frame against Charleston Southern, Asheville would tie the game in the fifth when Parks brought home Krumpe on a groundout to shortstop. Charleston Southern would re-gain its lead with two runs in the top of the sixth, before Asheville would jump back on top with four runs in the bottom of the sixth for a 10-8 lead. Johnson and Michelson got the inning started with back-to-back one-out singles, before Krumpe loaded the bases by reaching on a catcher's interference call. Minarik would rip the first pitch he saw back up the middle to score Johnson, before Parks was hit by a pitch to score Michelson and tie the game 8-8. Lowe would deliver the big blow in the inning with a single up the middle that scored Minarik and Krumpe as the Bulldogs took a 10-8 lead to the seventh. Matthew Hall would post a scoreless top of the seventh, before the Bulldogs would add four runs in the home half to take a 14-8 lead to the eighth. Gillen began the seventh by welcoming a Charleston Southern pitching change with a double into the right field corner, before Johnson singled to center to put runners at the corners with no one out. Michelson would rip a single to left center to score Gillen and move Johnson to third, before Minarik would deliver the big blow in the inning. Minarik launched the first pitch he saw down the left field line for a three-run tank, his sixth of the season and 15th of his Bulldog career. Charleston Southern answered with an eight-run top of the eighth to take a 16-14 lead to the bottom of the inning. Pereira was hit by a pitch with one out to start the Bulldog rally, before Gillen launched his first home run of the season and seventh of his Bulldog career down the right field line to tie the game 16-16. After the teams traded scoreless frames in the ninth inning, Charleston Southern would plate three runs in the 10th to ultimately bring the game to its final score.
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The Bulldog offense totaled 20 hits in the game, doing so for the first time since a 22-10 win against Radford back on May 13, 2023. Johnson paced the offense going a career-best 5-7 with two runs scored and two runs batted in, while Gillen and Minarik each had four hits and Michelson also had three hits. Krumpe, Parks, Lowe and Swangim each had one hit in the game. Gillen, Michelson and Minarik each scored three runs in the game, while Krumpe and Swangim each scored twice and Pereira also scored one run. Minarik drove in a career-high six runs in the game, while Parks drove in three runs and Gillen and Lowe each drove in two runs. Michelson also had one RBI in the game. Gillen also stole one base in the game. Smith got the start for the Bulldogs before handing the ball to Barna, who fired five solid innings of relief in the game. Barna allowed three runs on six hits with one walk and two strikeouts, before handing the ball off to Hall. Hall fired 2.2 innings of relief, allowing six runs on three hits with three walks and two strikeouts before Nick Bruno and Daylinh Nguyen-Brown finished the game off on the mound for Asheville. Nguyen-Brown (2-3) got hung with the loss, allowing three runs on two hits through 2.1 innings with three walks and one strikeout. The Asheville defense also turned one double play in the game.
The Bulldogs return to action on Tuesday (Apr. 28) at East Tennessee State in non-conference action. First pitch is set for 5:00 p.m. from Johnson City, Tenn. with video and live stats available at www.uncabulldogs.com.Â
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Resumption of Saturday's Game
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Play picked up at the start of the top of the sixth with Asheville leading 9-7. The Bulldogs turned to Cooper Smith, who stranded a man at third in the top of the sixth before the Bulldogs pulled away in the game with four runs in the bottom of the sixth. Logan Lowe began the inning with a single up the middle, before stealing second and advancing to third on a ball off the bat of Jake Pereira that resulted in a Charleston Southern error on the infield. Patrick Gillen singled up the middle to score Lowe and push Pereira to second, before both runners moved up on a wild pitch. Johnson was intentionally walked to load the bases, before Owen Michelson reached on a fielder's choice that allowed Pereira to score. The Bulldogs then executed a nice double steal with Gillen scoring and Michelson taking second, before Eric Krumpe would single up the middle to score Michelson to cap off the inning. Charleston Southern would finally scratch a run across against Smith in the ninth, but the Bulldogs were able to rally after play was suspended for the victory.
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Krumpe, Jake Minarik, Tyler Parks and Lowe each had two hits in the game in total, while Gillen, Johnson, Michelson, Zeb Swangim and Pereira each had one hit in the contest. Gillen, Johnson, Parks and Pereira each scored twice in the game, while Michelson, Krumpe, Minarik, Lowe and Swangim each scored two runs in the game. Michelson drove in a career-high four runs in the game, while Swangim posted two RBI and Gillen, Johnson, Krumpe, Minarik and Pereira each drove in one run. Gillen, Michelson and Lowe each stole a base in the game. Drew Turner (4-6) ultimately collected the win in the game allowing seven runs, four earned on seven hits through five innings in the contest with three walks and four strikeouts. Smith picked up his first save as a Bulldog with four innings of relief, allowing one run while scattering four hits with two walks and two strikeouts. The Bulldog defense also turned one double play in the game.
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Sunday's Game
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Charleston Southern started the game in a big way, putting up six runs in the top of the first. Asheville would respond with three runs in the bottom of the first, with the inning starting with Gillen ripping a single up the middle before later stealing second with one out. Michelson would draw a walk before the second out, before Minarik would step to the plate and deliver a laser into the left center gap to score both runners and get Asheville on the board. Parks would rip the first pitch he saw back up the middle to score Minarik as the Bulldogs cut the deficit in half in the frame. Asheville would get back within 6-4 with one run in the second, with Swangim coming home on an infield single off the bat of Johnson. The teams would trade scoreless frames in the third, before Asheville would get within 6-5 with one run in the fourth when Johnson's 100th career hit was a double to the left field wall that brought home Swangim. After Branden Barna hung a fourth straight scoreless frame against Charleston Southern, Asheville would tie the game in the fifth when Parks brought home Krumpe on a groundout to shortstop. Charleston Southern would re-gain its lead with two runs in the top of the sixth, before Asheville would jump back on top with four runs in the bottom of the sixth for a 10-8 lead. Johnson and Michelson got the inning started with back-to-back one-out singles, before Krumpe loaded the bases by reaching on a catcher's interference call. Minarik would rip the first pitch he saw back up the middle to score Johnson, before Parks was hit by a pitch to score Michelson and tie the game 8-8. Lowe would deliver the big blow in the inning with a single up the middle that scored Minarik and Krumpe as the Bulldogs took a 10-8 lead to the seventh. Matthew Hall would post a scoreless top of the seventh, before the Bulldogs would add four runs in the home half to take a 14-8 lead to the eighth. Gillen began the seventh by welcoming a Charleston Southern pitching change with a double into the right field corner, before Johnson singled to center to put runners at the corners with no one out. Michelson would rip a single to left center to score Gillen and move Johnson to third, before Minarik would deliver the big blow in the inning. Minarik launched the first pitch he saw down the left field line for a three-run tank, his sixth of the season and 15th of his Bulldog career. Charleston Southern answered with an eight-run top of the eighth to take a 16-14 lead to the bottom of the inning. Pereira was hit by a pitch with one out to start the Bulldog rally, before Gillen launched his first home run of the season and seventh of his Bulldog career down the right field line to tie the game 16-16. After the teams traded scoreless frames in the ninth inning, Charleston Southern would plate three runs in the 10th to ultimately bring the game to its final score.
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The Bulldog offense totaled 20 hits in the game, doing so for the first time since a 22-10 win against Radford back on May 13, 2023. Johnson paced the offense going a career-best 5-7 with two runs scored and two runs batted in, while Gillen and Minarik each had four hits and Michelson also had three hits. Krumpe, Parks, Lowe and Swangim each had one hit in the game. Gillen, Michelson and Minarik each scored three runs in the game, while Krumpe and Swangim each scored twice and Pereira also scored one run. Minarik drove in a career-high six runs in the game, while Parks drove in three runs and Gillen and Lowe each drove in two runs. Michelson also had one RBI in the game. Gillen also stole one base in the game. Smith got the start for the Bulldogs before handing the ball to Barna, who fired five solid innings of relief in the game. Barna allowed three runs on six hits with one walk and two strikeouts, before handing the ball off to Hall. Hall fired 2.2 innings of relief, allowing six runs on three hits with three walks and two strikeouts before Nick Bruno and Daylinh Nguyen-Brown finished the game off on the mound for Asheville. Nguyen-Brown (2-3) got hung with the loss, allowing three runs on two hits through 2.1 innings with three walks and one strikeout. The Asheville defense also turned one double play in the game.
The Bulldogs return to action on Tuesday (Apr. 28) at East Tennessee State in non-conference action. First pitch is set for 5:00 p.m. from Johnson City, Tenn. with video and live stats available at www.uncabulldogs.com.Â
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Turner, Drew (4-6)
L: HENRY,Hayden (1-3)
S: Smith, Cooper (1)
Batting:
2B: WOLFLEY,Caden 1 ; MAROT,Alex 1
3B: READER,Ethan 1
RBI: WRIGHT,Tyler 1 ; MAROT,Alex 2 ; PRINGLE,Lucas 1 ; MARTINEZ,Nathan 1 ; READER,Ethan 1
SH: WOLFLEY,Caden 1
Base Running:
RUNS: COLLINS,Kain 1 ; WOLFLEY,Caden 2 ; WRIGHT,Tyler 1 ; MAROT,Alex 2 ; BARILE,Garrison 1 ; EDGMON,Blake 1
SB: COLLINS,Kain 1
CS: COLLINS,Kain 1
HBP: BARILE,Garrison 1
Batting:
2B: Michelson, Owen 1 ; Minarik, Jake 2 ; Swangim, Zeb 1
HR: Johnson, Blaize 1
RBI: Gillen, Patrick 1 ; Johnson, Blaize 1 ; Michelson, Owen 4 ; Krumpe, Eric 1 ; Minarik, Jake 1 ; Swangim, Zeb 2 ; Pereira, Jake 1
SH: Lowe, Logan 2
SF: Swangim, Zeb 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Gillen, Patrick 2 ; Johnson, Blaize 2 ; Michelson, Owen 1 ; Krumpe, Eric 1 ; Minarik, Jake 1 ; Parks, Tyler 2 ; Lowe, Logan 1 ; Swangim, Zeb 1 ; Pereira, Jake 2
SB: Gillen, Patrick 1 ; Michelson, Owen 1 ; Lowe, Logan 1
HBP: Michelson, Owen 1 ; Minarik, Jake 1 ; Parks, Tyler 1
PO: Pereira, Jake 1
Game Leaders
AB
4
R
1
H
2
RBI
1
AB
3
R
1
H
2
RBI
1
AB
4
R
2
H
2
RBI
0
AB
2
R
1
H
2
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
RHP
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LHP
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INF
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RHP
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C/UTL
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C
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INF
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C/OF
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OF
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RHP
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INF
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RHP
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INF
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RHP
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