Wednesday, March 28, 2007

JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (Mar. 28, 2007) - UNC Asheville scored three ninth inning runs, erasing a 3-1 ETSU lead and escaped with a 4-3 victory over the Bucs Wednesday night at Cardinal Park.

Trailing 3-1 with one out in the ninth, shortstop Steve Burnich singled to right field, advancing to second when center fielder Kevin Mattison was hit by reliever Caleb Glafenhein (Knoxville, Tenn.).  Second baseman Matt Henson cut the deficit to one run with single to right field, right fielder David Williams' infield grounder scored the game tying run.  Rob Vernon brought the game winner home with a single up the middle; his team-leading 24^th RBI of the season.

Freshman Ryan Self (Mt. Juliet, Tenn.) and senior C.J. Lee (Bristol, Va.) led off the first inning with back-to-back doubles, giving the Bucs a 1-0 lead.

Lee reached again in the fifth on a hit-by-pitch, and stole second and third, advancing home on catcher Edmond Locklear's throwing error.

UNC Asheville (10-18) cut the lead in half in the sixth, plating a run on a pair of two-out hits.  Third baseman Justin Schumer started the rally doubling to right field, and scored on shortstop Steve Burnich's single up the middle.

The Bucs (18-10) added what appeared to be an insurance run in the seventh with Lee scoring his second run of the night on sophomore Troy Mendez's (Roswell, Ga.) single into center field.

Glafenhein (8-2) allowed all three ninth inning runs, dropping just his second decision of the year.  Ben Buchanan improved to 2-5, allowing just one hit in 2 1/3 innings of relief.

The Bucs return to action Friday night, hosting Campbell in Atlantic Sun Conference action at 7 p.m. at Cardinal Park.