UNC ASHEVILLE EDGES FURMAN, 5-3
ASHEVILLE, N.C. - UNC Asheville scored four runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to rally past Furman, 5-3 in collegiate baseball action Wednesday afternoon at sunny Greenwood Field.
The Bulldogs (18-19) trailed 3-0 before getting a run in the bottom of the third inning and then sent nine men to the plate in the seventh to pull out the victory.
UNCA starter Dustin Sode (2-0) got the victory with eight strong innings of work. He allowed five hits, two earned runs, struck out three and walked two. Reliever Seth Denton pitched a scoreless ninth to earn his fourth save of the season.
Furman (21-16) was led at the plate by Dominck Frankney, who drove in two runs on a run-scoring single and a sacrifice fly.
"We started out flat but came back and played much better in the later innings," said UNC Asheville coach Matt Myers. "We beat a very good team today in Furman. They came into today's game with wins in 10 of their last 12 games. I'm proud of the way we battled back and won the game."
In the seventh, the Bulldogs trailed 3-1 as Furman reliever Case Cassedy came on to pitch. He gave up singles to Nick Jaksa and Steve Burnish to open the inning. Robert Rudder moved the runners over to second and third with a sacrifice bunt. Ben Padgett drove Jaksa in with a sacrifice fly to cut the lead to 3-2.
Matt Roberts then battled back from an 0-2 to count to get a walk to put runners on first and third. Cassedy uncorked a wild pitch to score Burnich and tie the game at 3-3.
Roberts stole second. Grant Rembert followed with an RBI-single to plate Roberts and give UNCA the lead for good at 4-3. A single by Daniel Pruitt moved Rembert to second. Rembert came home with the fourth run of the inning on an RBI-single from Drew Sandri.
"We had some great at bats in the seventh inning," added Myers. "We got a bunt down to move the runners over, worked a walk and adjusted at the plate and got some key hits."
The Paladins jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first inning thanks to three infield hits and an error. Andrew Greene had a bunt hit and went to second on an error. Frankney followed with a two-out infield hit that scored Greene.
In the third, Furman scored two times on an RBI-single from Derek Norman and a sacrifice fly from Frankney. UNCA got a run back in the bottom of the frame when Rembert hit a shot to center field that Greene made a great shoestring catch. The bases were loaded at the time and Rudder scored on the play to cut the lead to 3-1.
Furman's first two pitchers pitched very well as starter Patrick Griffin pitched the first three innings and allowed three hits and an unearned run. Reliever Coogie Freedman pitched the next three innings and gave up just one hit, while striking out two and walking two.
Rembert, Jaksa and Padgett led Asheville at the plate with two hits each. Rembert drove in two of Asheville's five runs.
The Bulldogs will play Friday afternoon at 3 p.m. when they host future Big South Conference member Birmingham-Southern. Furman will play at The Citadel on Friday night.