GREENSBORO, N.C. – UNCG Baseball will hit the road Wednesday for the final midweek competition of the 2016 season. The Spartans will face off with the UNC Asheville Bulldogs at Greenwood Field in Asheville, N.C. The Spartans enter the contest with a 35-14 overall record, and can tie the school record for nonconference wins in a season. The mark has been set at 23 since the 1993 season, not counting postseason play.
Fans can watch tomorrow's game on the Big South Network, via a link on UNCGSpartans.com, there will also be live stats available on UNCGSpartans.com. Fans can also stay updated on the game by following @UNCGScores on Twitter, and stay up to date with everything UNCG Baseball by following @UNCGBaseball on Twitter.
The Spartans took two of three games from the Wofford Terriers over the weekend. UNCG dropped the first game 12-3, before taking games two and three, each by a 6-1 tally. Ryne Sigmon, Dillon Stewart, Collin Woody and Devin Ruiz each hit home runs in the three games. With the wins, UNCG remains in first place in the Southern Conference.
UNC Asheville and UNCG have played in 28 games over the years, with the Spartans holding a 20-8 advantage in that time. The last ten games have all been played in Greensboro, with the last contest in Asheville in 1996 when both teams were members of the Big South Conference. The Spartans defeated the Bulldogs in all three games of the 1996 season.
UNCG sports the nation's top offense, leading in several categories including average, hits, doubles per game, doubles, triples, sacrifice flies, slugging and on base percentage. The Spartans are led by a pair of left-handed bats at the plate. Ben Spitznagel (Cincinnati, Ohio/Wabash Valley CC) leads the Spartans with a .406 batting average, and has recorded 82 hits, second in the NCAA. Spitznagel has also swiped 19 bases and scored 54 runs. L.J. Kalawaia (Wailuku, Hawai'i/Ohlone College) has hit for a .400 average this year. The redshirt senior has recorded 76 hits, including 18 for extra bases. Kalawaia is second on the team, and ninth in the nation with 58 RBI on the season.
Collin Woody (Tampa, Fla./College of Central Florida) leads the team with 63 RBI, which is second in the nation. Woody and Dillon Stewart (Dunn, N.C./Brunswick CC) lead the Spartans with 10 home runs each. Jake Kusz (Durham, N.C./Riverside) is third with seven home runs. The junior catcher has had 20 extra-base hits this year, driven in 44 runs, scored 37 times while catching 412 of UNCG's 431 inning's this year.
Bryce Hensley (Candler, N.C./Enka) will make his 11th start of the season on Wednesday evening. The sophomore lefty worked as the Saturday starter for eight weeks before moving into a midweek role. Hensley has earned six quality starts. In his last appearance against Samford, He worked 4.0 innings, allowing only four hits and one earned run, striking out three batters while not allowing a walk.
The Bulldogs enter the midweek game having played a game on three-straight days. UNC Asheville moved their weekend series with Longwood up a day after inclement weather didn't allow the game to be played on Friday night. The Bulldogs wrapped up their Big South series on Monday evening before taking on the Furman Paladins on Tuesday night. Prior to the three games this week, UNC Asheville is 15-30 on the season. In their last ten games, the Bulldogs are 4-6.
UNC Asheville enters the week with a 15-30 record. Joe Tietjen leads the Bulldog offense. Tietjen has hit for a .362 average through 45 games. The junior outfielder has hit nine home runs and leads the team with 13 doubles. Tietjen has also driven in a team-high 49 runs on the year, while swiping a team-high nine bases. Lucas Owens has started 41 games this year and has earned a .276 average. The senior utility player has hit 10 doubles and one triple while driving in 14 runs. Owens has scored 27 runs. Pete Guy has scored a team high 40 runs while starting in 45 games. Listed as a catcher on the UNC Asheville roster, Guy hit a team-high 10 home runs, and driven in 28. Carmine Pagano has started 40 games this year, while hitting for a .242 average. The freshman infielder has connected for seven extra-base hits, as well as scoring 24 runs.
The Bulldogs will start have yet to name a starter for Wednesday's game, as they will play games on Monday and Tuesday of this week leading up to the matchup with UNCG. Eric Whitecavage leads the Bulldogs with 22 appearances. Whitecavage has earned three saves in 21.2 innings this season. The freshman right-hander has struck out 18 batters on the year and has allowed seven earned runs this year. Nick Boyles has been productive in his 13 appearances. Boyles, a sophomore right hander, has earned a 2-0 record with a 1.71 ERA in 21.0 innings. Brett Hyers has appeared in 11 games this year, earning a save in the process. Hyers has worked in 13.0 innings, and has allowed eight earned runs.
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