JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (May 18, 2005) - Behind a stellar pitching performance by junior righty Jeremy Hall (Gray, Tenn.) and an early home run by junior right fielder Shane Byrne (Johnson City, Tenn.), East Tennessee State cruised to a 5-1 victory over UNC Asheville Wednesday afternoon from Cardinal Park in Johnson City, Tenn.

            The Bucs (29-19) jumped ahead with three runs in the top of the first, which would eventually be enough for Hall. Junior shortstop Chuck Hargis (Powell, Tenn.) led off the game with a single to right and Byrne followed with an opposite-field two-run shot over the left field wall. With two outs in the inning, junior first baseman Blake Church (Roswell, Ga.) walked and moved to second on a single to right by senior second baseman Nick Crowe (Johnson City, Tenn.). Freshman third baseman Anthony Russell (Waldorf, Md.) then followed with a single to left, scoring Church.

            UNC Asheville (11-39) scored its lone run in the top of the second. With one out in the inning, John Whited walked and moved to second on a single up the middle by Evan Dawson. Kevin Mattison followed by reaching on a fielder's choice and advancing to second on an error, allowing Whited to cross the plate.

            Neither team got on the scoreboard again until ETSU scored its final two runs in the bottom of the eighth. Freshman pinch-hitter Bubba Herbold (Knoxville, Tenn.) laced a single to center to lead off the inning, and pinch-runner Josiah Glafenhein (Knoxville, Tenn.) moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by junior left fielder Steven Calicutt (Spartanburg, S.C.). Hargis then scored Glafenhein with a double to left-center and senior catcher Caleb Moore (Knoxville, Tenn.) followed with an RBI double to right.

            Hall pitched the first eight innings, allowing one run on seven hits to earn his 10^th win of the season (10-3). He also walked four and struck out nine opposing batters. Moore pitched a scoreless ninth to secure the victory.

            Alan DeRatt was charged with the loss (1-10) for the Bulldogs, allowing three runs on six hits while walking three and striking out three in four innings of work.

            The Bucs were led at the plate by Hargis and Moore, who were each 2-for-4 in the win. Hargis also scored two runs while Byrne drove in two.

            UNC Asheville was paced by Elliott Arrington, who went 3-for-4 in the loss. Tony Campana and Ben Kerr also had two hits each for the Bulldogs.

            East Tennessee State returns to action tomorrow night at 7 p.m. for the opener of their final series of the regular season as the Bucs host High Point from Cardinal Park in Johnson City, Tenn. UNC Asheville begins its final series of the regular season on Friday, hosting Big South rival Birmingham-Southern at 3 p.m. from Asheville, N.C.