ASHEVILLE, N.C. – A six-run fourth inning propelled UNC Asheville over North Carolina A&T, 11-4, at Greenwood Field Saturday afternoon in Big South Conference baseball action.
The Bulldogs (11-17, 6-5) got things started in the bottom of the second inning when they plated five runs on two hits. Freshman right-hander Jaheim Brown (L, 1-4) retired the first two Asheville batters in the frame before Brown hit PJ Heintz with a pitch, sending him to first.
Tylan Reece knocked a single into center field before the next three batters walked, plating the game's first two runs. Then, with two outs and the bases loaded, Dylan Bacot roped a double to left field that emptied the bags to make it 5-0. Brown walked another batter before freshman RHP Michael Clayton replaced him on the mound and retired the first batter he faced to end the inning.
The Aggies (11-18, 1-7) cut into the Bulldogs' lead in the fourth as sophomore Camden Jackson hit a lead-off single up the middle. Junior Cameran Brantley then ripped a one-out double to right field, placing runners on third and second.
After graduate Alec Seaton grounded out, sophomore Alex Reyna reached on a throwing error from Bulldog first baseman Michael Groves, scoring Jackson and Brantley to make it a 5-2 ballgame.
UNCA responded quickly in the home half, plating six runs on five hits. The frame featured a two-run RBI single by Grayson Preslar and a two-run RBI double by Heintz. The Bulldogs exited the inning with an 11-2 lead after four complete.
A&T picked up another run in the sixth. Jackson again led off with a base hit and eventually scored on a throwing error by Bulldog pitcher Ryan Douglas to cut the deficit to eight, 11-3. A&T's final run came in the eighth.
Jackson, who had a team-high three hits on the day, sliced a one-out single through the right side. Junior Cort Maynard laid down a sacrifice bunt to move him to second. Then, an error from UNCA shortstop Ty Kaufman allowed Brantley to reach base safely and Jackson to move to third.
A passed ball advanced both runners, scoring Jackson and making it an 11-4 game.
Douglas (W, 1-4) gave the Bulldogs a quality start on the mound, going six innings and allowing three unearned runs on seven hits with five strikeouts.
The Aggies did muster a hit in the top of the ninth on a single from freshman catcher Canyon Brown, but a double play erased him. Junior Anthony Hennings then fouled out to first base, ending the game.
Justin Honeycutt (SV, 1) picked up his first save of the season after tallying three innings of relief. Honeycutt allowed one run, unearned, on just two hits with a strikeout. Bacot led UNCA by going 3-for-4 with three RBI, a run scored and a walk drawn.
