High Point at UNC Asheville

ASHEVILLE, N.C. (Interstat) — High Point visits UNC Asheville on Friday for a Big South doubleheader at Greenwood Baseball Field, with the first game scheduled for the afternoon and the nightcap in the evening. First-pitch weather is forecast at 61 degrees and clear.

The Panthers (34-17 overall) hold the league’s best record and enter on a three-game winning streak after sweeping Winthrop last weekend by a combined 27-14 margin. High Point outscored the Eagles 11-3, 7-3 and 9-8 in 10 innings.

UNC Asheville (20-32) took two of three at Radford last weekend, winning 6-4 and 4-2 before a 9-5 loss. The Bulldogs have lost seven of their last 10.

High Point designated hitter SeoJun Oh is a player to watch. Over his last 10 games, Oh has four home runs and seven RBIs while hitting .346 (9-for-26). He went 3-for-4 with a homer and two RBIs in Sunday’s 11-3 win over Winthrop and homered again in Saturday’s 7-3 victory.

UNC Asheville right-hander Lucas Boesen will be a key arm. Boesen earned the win Sunday at Radford, tossing 6 1/3 innings of scoreless ball, allowing no hits and three earned runs while striking out five. In his previous start, he threw seven innings against Western Carolina, allowing four runs with six strikeouts.

The Bulldogs have struggled offensively, averaging 4.3 runs per game. High Point’s lineup has been productive, led by Oh, center fielder Caleb Hammond (3-for-3, homer, three RBIs on Sunday) and pitcher Aidan Paul (4 1/3 innings, two hits, no earned runs.)

High Point won the series opener Thursday 5-1. The Panthers have won nine of their last 11 conference games.

The Interstat Game Simulator projects a 7-4 High Point victory.

The teams conclude the series Saturday with a single game at Greenwood.