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The Student Voice of UNC Asheville

The Blue Banner

The Student Voice of UNC Asheville

The Blue Banner

Bulldogs lose midweek baseball matchups

UNC Asheville baseball saves its weekends for the Big South Conference competition and three-game series, but during the week, the Bulldogs face a variety of difficult opponents, including this week’s matchups with South Carolina Upstate and the University of Tennessee. The bulldogs dropped to 5-20 for the season after a 3-9 loss to the USC Upstate Spartans and a shutout loss to the UT Volunteers, 0-11.
The Bulldogs scored two runs in the first inning against the Spartans, Tuesday at Greenwood Field. Pete Guy, senior designated hitter, led off with his 31st walk of the season, tying him for the most in the nation. Kyle Carruthers, junior right fielder, scored on a sacrifice fly into center field, hit by Dan Wilson, freshman first baseman.
The Bulldogs led until the fifth inning when the Spartans added two runs to the run they earned earlier in the third. The Spartans sent eight batters to the plate in the sixth inning to score an additional run, and UNCA was forced to use its fourth pitcher of the night, senior Corey Randall.
The Spartans exploded for five runs in the seventh inning and batted around until Nick Boyles, UNCA sophomore pitcher, replaced Randall and induced the final two outs. Boyles only allowed one hit for the remainder of the game.
The Bulldogs managed an additional run in the bottom of the ninth when Erik Connolly, senior pinch hitter, scored from second on a double hit by Alex Baratta, freshman third baseman. Three of UNCA’s seven hits came in the ninth inning.
The Volunteers played the Bulldogs in Knoxville and defeated them for the second time this season on Wednesday. The first meeting took place at McCormick field, home of the Asheville Tourists, March 15.
The Volunteers held the Bulldogs to six hits and stranded eight men on base as they spread 15 hits and 11 runs between the six Bulldog pitchers. Scott Kobos, UNCA freshman left fielder, finished 2-for-4 to lead the team in batting. Pete Guy added another walk to maintain his spot atop the national list.
Vincent Jackson, Volunteer designated hitter, scored an inside-the-park homerun when two Bulldogs collided in left field and the ball rolled away. UNCA committed two errors in each of the games.
The Bulldogs face Presbyterian College in conference play at Greenwood field including a Friday game broadcast by ESPN 3.

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