UNC Asheville Baseball prepares for a busy week, hosting Appalachian State on April 7 before heading to Longwood for a three-game Big South series from April 10-12. The Bulldogs hold a 15-17 record overall and have struggled in their conference play with a 3-6 mark. Meanwhile, Appalachian State enters with a 16-14 overall record and is looking to improve upon their 5-7 conference standing. The matchup against Longwood will be crucial for both teams, with Asheville aiming to break Longwood's recent dominance in their series.

By the Numbers
  • Blaize Johnson leads the Big South with a .400 batting average and ranks 34th nationally with 48 hits.
  • Longwood鈥檚 team ERA of 4.23 places them 37th in the nation.
Yes, But

While Asheville's players, particularly Johnson, are having standout seasons, their overall performance has been hindered by inconsistent outcomes in recent games, specifically against Gardner-Webb. Conversely, Appalachian State remains competitive in the Sun Belt despite facing ups and downs.

State of Play
  • UNC Asheville is coming off two losses in their last series against Gardner-Webb.
  • Appalachian State won two of three games against Marshall last weekend.
What's Next

After hosting Appalachian State, UNC Asheville will focus on regaining momentum against Longwood, where winning the series will be essential for their standings in the Big South Conference.

Bottom Line

This week's games are pivotal for UNC Asheville to enhance their season. Strong individual performances need to translate into team success to climb out of the lower tier of the Big South standings.