ASHEVILLE, N.C. | The Alabama A&M University baseball team was back in action on Saturday as the Bulldogs dropped a doubleheader to UNC Asheville, 6-1 and 11-7, at the Greenwood Baseball Field.
GAME 1 – UNC Asheville 6, Alabama A&M 1
Alabama A&M was limited offensively throughout the afternoon by UNC Asheville starter Drew Turner, who tossed a complete-game two-hitter while striking out five and allowing just one unearned run.
UNC Asheville struck first in the bottom of the opening inning. After a pair of baserunners reached, Ben Green delivered a sacrifice fly to bring home the game's first run and give the Bulldogs a 1-0 lead.
The score remained unchanged until the fourth inning when UNC Asheville extended its advantage. Eric Krumpe blasted a two-run home run to right field, pushing the lead to 3-0.
UNC Asheville added to its cushion in the fifth inning as Blaize Johnson launched a solo home run before another run scored later in the frame to stretch the lead to 5-0.
Alabama A&M broke through in the sixth inning.
Miles Jackson reached safely and eventually came around to score on a sacrifice fly by
Tervell Johnson, trimming the deficit to 5-1.
The hosts answered in the bottom half of the inning as Blaize Johnson doubled and later scored to cap the scoring at 6-1.
Anthony Mateo (1-2) took the loss for Alabama A&M after working six innings, allowing six runs on 11 hits with three walks.
GAME 2 – UNC Asheville 11, Alabama A&M 7
Alabama A&M (5-11) collected 10 hits and drew 12 walks in the contest, but UNC Asheville used a seven-run first inning to seize early control of the game.
The Bulldogs struck first in the opening inning as
Miles Jackson blasted a two-run home run to give Alabama A&M a 2-0 advantage.
UNC Asheville (9-7) responded immediately in the bottom of the first, capitalizing on four walks and several key hits to score seven runs and move in front 7-2. Logan Lowe delivered the biggest blow in the inning, driving in multiple runs as the Bulldogs struggled to find command on the mound early.
Alabama A&M chipped away in the second inning when
Chris Walker delivered a two-run hit to cut the deficit to 7-4. The Bulldogs continued to apply pressure in the third as Jackson drove in another run to trim the lead to 7-5.
UNC Asheville pushed its advantage to 10-5 with a run in the third and two more in the fourth.
The Bulldogs refused to go away, scoring a run in the fifth and another in the sixth to pull within 10-7.
Charles Morris drove in a run while Alabama A&M continued to create opportunities on the basepaths with patient at-bats.
However, the Bulldogs left 17 runners on base in the contest, preventing them from completing the comeback. UNC Asheville added an insurance run in the eighth before closing out the victory.
Jackson led Alabama A&M offensively, finishing 2-for-6 with two RBIs and a home run, while Walker went 2-for-3 with two RBIs and two walks.
Keilon Parnell also added two hits and scored twice for the Bulldogs.
On the mound,
Antonio Torres was charged with the loss after starting the game. Alabama A&M received relief appearances from
Bryce Dolce,
Kameron Vandersee,
Terence Sales,
Virgil Heath and
Nick Espinola.
UP NEXT
Alabama A&M concludes its four-game series with UNC Asheville on Sunday, with a single game, starting at 11 a.m. (CT) from Greenwood Baseball Field.
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