Seven Run Third Too Much for Baseball as UNC Asheville Downs RU 15-4

ASHEVILLE, N.C. - UNC Asheville scored seven times in the third inning en route to a 15-4 Big South Conference win over Radford at McCormick Field Sunday afternoon. (Box Score)

The Bulldogs (15-16, 7-5 BSC) sent 11 batters to the plate in the fourth to erase a 1-0 Highlanders’ (7-18, 3-8 BSC) lead. UNCA hit back-to-back homers in the inning and got a clutch three-run double from Jake McConiga.

The win went to starter Steven Cook (5-3). The junior right-hander pitched seven strong innings, scattering eight hits, while striking out one and walking. The one run he allowed was unearned.

Trailing 1-0 in the third inning, McConiga led off with a single but was thrown attempting to steal. Ben Padgett followed with his first homer of the year to tie the game, 1-1. Grant Rembert then hit the next pitch over the right-field wall for a 2-1 UNCA lead.

Radford pitcher Josh Deaver then got into control difficulty. He walked two straight hitters and then hit a batter to load the bases. Deaver then walked Nick Jaksa and Robert Rudder to force in runs for a 4-1 Bulldogs’ lead.

Deaver was lifted for reliever Cory Koliscak. With the bases loaded and two outs, McConiga sent a Koliscak pitch into center field that plated three runs and gave the Bulldogs a 7-1 lead.

“We got some clutch hits today,” said UNCA coach Matt Myers. “We really swung the bats well and once again got contributions from everyone in the lineup.

“I’m really pleased to win another conference series,” added Myers. “Radford has had some big wins this year and this is a big series for us to win.”

The Highlanders opened the scoring in the first inning. Alan Ashworth got on with a bunt single and went to second on a throwing error by Cook. Mark Fleisher, who hit three homers in two games on Saturday, doubled to left-center to score Ashworth and give Radford a 1-0 lead.

UNCA put the game away with six runs in the seventh inning. The Bulldogs led 8-1 entering the inning but once again batted around, scoring six times to lead 14-1. Charles Pippitt had a two-run double and Todd Coggins followed with a two-run single.

Freshman Andrew Alexander completed the Bulldogs’ scoring with a solo homer in the eighth inning for a 15-1 Bulldog lead.

Radford scored three times in the ninth inning as it got an RBI walk from John Vellines, an RBI-single from Steve Mignogna and a sacrifice fly from David Landman. Scott Gvozdas led the Highlanders at the plate with three hits.

Rudder had two RBIs for the Bulldogs, while Bill Carley had two hits for UNCA.