Highlander Baseball, UNC Asheville Split Twinbill

ASHEVILLE, N.C. - Daniel Pruitt homered twice and Grant Rembert drove in three runs as UNC Asheville downed Radford 7-1 in the first game of a Big South Conference doubleheader at McCormick Field Saturday. The Highlanders bounced back to win the second game, 7-3 behind two home runs from Mark Fleisher.

(Box Score Game 1)
(Box Score Game 2)

Aaron Rembert (5-3) earned the win for UNCA as he pitched the first seven innings and allowed just one run on nine hits. He struck out four and walked one. Brad Beck and Seth Denton pitched the final two innings for the Dogs.

The Bulldogs (14-16, 6-5 BSC) jumped in front with two runs in the first inning. Grant Rembert drove in one run with an RBI-single, followed by a sacrifice fly from Bill Carley as UNCA quickly led 2-0.

Fleisher homered in the second inning to cut the lead to 2-1. Rembert followed with a two-run homer in the third inning to pad the lead to 4-1.

Pruitt hit a solo homer in the fourth to make it 5-1 and then added a two-run homer in the sixth to increase the lead to 7-1. The Highlanders (7-17, 3-7) were led at the plate by Kellen Wohlford who went 3-for-4 and a double.

In the second game, Fleisher’s two homers helped the Highlanders overcome an early 3-0 deficit.

UNCA jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first inning as Drew Sandri hit a two-run homer. But Radford tied the game with three runs in the second inning as Fleisher led the inning off with his second homer of the day. RU got an RBI-single from Ryan Wetzel to cut the lead to 3-2 . Wetzel then scored on a wild pitch to tie the game at 3-3.

Scott Gvozdas put the Highlanders ahead to stay with an RBI-double in the third inning to make it 4-3. RU scored a run in the fourth and Fleisher put the game away with a two-run homer in the top of the seventh for a 7-3 lead.

Starter Justin Tubb, who improved to 4-0 on the year, went 4.2 innings. Bursey came on and got the final out of the inning to end a UNCA threat. Bursey who pitched 2.1 innings of scoreless relief got credit for the save, allowing one hit and striking out one. Fleisher finished the second game, 2-for-3 with three RBIs.

The teams will play the third game of their series at McCormick Field starting at 1 p.m. on Sunday.