#6 UNC Asheville Eliminates #4 High Point With 12-2 Win In Game Seven of Bojangles' Big South Baseball Championship
CONWAY, S.C. – No. 6 UNC Asheville exploded for nine runs in the top half of the eighth to cruise to the 12-2 win in game seven of the 2006 Bojangles’ Big South Baseball Championship presented by PUPS/PDPS Friday afternoon at Charles Watson Stadium/Vrooman Field on the campus of Coastal Carolina University.
With the win, UNC Asheville improves to 26-33, while the Panthers fall to 27-32.
UNC Asheville moved one runner across in the top of the fourth to take the 1-0 lead. Edmund Locklear was hit by a pitch to lead the inning off. He moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Rob Vernon. A ground out by Brett Robinson moved Locklear to third. Locklear scored on a wild pitch by David Parker.
In the bottom of the fifth, High Point moved one across to knot the game up a 1-1. Matt Gantner led the inning off with a walk, and moved to second as Dustin Holtzman was hit by a pitch. The next batter, Alfie Wheeler, drew a walk to load the bases. Gantner scored on a wild pitch by UNC Asheville reliever Ben Buchanan.
In the top of the sixth UNC Asheville plated one runner to retake the lead at 2-1. Elliot Arrington led off with a double to right, and moved to third on a sacrifice fly by Edmund Locklear. Arrington scored on a passed ball.
The Bulldogs added a run in the top of the seventh to push their lead to 3-1. John Whited lead off the inning with a walk and moved to third on a failed pick-off attempt. Steve Burnich brought home Whited on a sacrifice bunt.
UNC Asheville exploded to for nine runs in the top half of the eighth to push its lead to 12-1. Chaz Pippitt highlighted the inning with a three run homer to center field, his third of the season.
High Point moved one across in the bottom of the eighth to cut the lead to 12-2, but that is as close as it would get. Jeff Cowan lead off with a walk and moved to second on a single by Norwood. A wild pitch by Andrew Alexander moved Cowan and Norword to third and second. Mark Shorey drew a walk to load the bases. A sacrifice fly ball to left by Billy Aguiar brought home Cowan.
UNC Asheville’s Ben Buchanan picked up the win and improves to 5-5, while High Point’s David Parker took the loss, falling to 2-4 on the season.
UNC Asheville will now play Liberty tonight in game nine at 7:00pm.
Quotes
UNC Asheville Head Coach Willie Stewart
“We were able to feed off the High Point mistakes. We got were able to manufacture some runs and put the pressure on them. Ben Buchanan saved the day. The kid wants the ball, and I want him to have it when he is out there.”
High Point Head Coach Sal Bando Jr.
“This was a disappointing way to have the season end. However, we are not going to let the result of this game overshadow a tremendous season for our program. I am extremely proud of the effort that every player on this team gave for the entire year, because we could have folded when we started the year 7-17. We have a strong nucleus of young players coming back next year and have a chance to build on a solid season.”