ASHEVILLE, N.C. – Offense reigned supreme on Friday night as UNC Asheville and Longwood combined for 26 hits and 19 runs, but Asheville used a seven-run sixth inning to overcome career days by both Hunter Gilliam and Antwaun Tucker to upend the Lancers 11-8.
 
Gilliam had a career best three RBI while tying a career high with three hits. Tucker picked up his first four-hit game in his Lancer career after playing in his first game since early March due to an injury.
 
"I was really proud of the offense tonight," said Longwood head coach Ryan Mau. "Hunter, Tucker and De'Andre [Pitts} had great days at the plate for us."
 
Longwood (7-18, 2-5 Big South) held a 7-3 lead headed into the bottom of the sixth thanks to a bevy of production on offense, but Asheville rallied by sending 12 to the plate in the inning. Greg Gasparro drew a bases-loaded walk, and the floodgates opened. A single by Dominic Freeberger and a double by Jake Madole tied the game at seven before a wild pitch put Asheville up 8-7. Danny Wilson doubled down the line to plate two more before Longwood got out of the inning, but the damage was done.
 
"Our bullpen struggles continue, and they were able to put some big hits together," said Mau.
 
Gilliam sliced an RBI single through the left side to cut the lead to 10-8, his third RBI of the game, but the Lancers could get no closer.
 
Gilliam and Tucker started the game off with a bang for the Lancers. Tucker lined the first pitch of the game up the middle for a base hit, and Gilliam bombed a homer to dead center two batters later for the early 2-0 lead.
 
Asheville answered with a pair of runs to even the score, but Longwood stayed hot at the plate. In the third inning, Gilliam and Nate Blakeney singled, and Keller mashed them home with a double to left-center.
 
Tucker doubled home De'Andre Pitts in the fourth inning, and he later scored on a groundout by Carlos Garrido as the Lancers bumped the lead to 7-3.
 
"It was really good to have Tucker back out there, and his impact was immediate," said Mau.
 
Bryan Golnick (0-2) was tagged with the loss. The freshman pitched a scoreless fifth in relief before running into a buzzsaw in the sixth and surrendering five runs on three hits and two walks with two strikeouts.
 
Trey Jernigan (2-0) earned the win for Asheville by giving up one run in three innings of relief work. He allowed one hit and one walk while striking out two. Kole Harris (5) picked up the save after pitching a clean ninth.
 
The two teams square off on Saturday afternoon in game two of the three-game series. First pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m.
 
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