Branden Barna is UNC Asheville’s late-inning stabilizer
In the 2026 season, redshirt junior RHP Branden Barna has quietly become a high-leverage arm for UNC Asheville, highlighted by his first two career saves and a Big South Relief Pitcher of the Week honor after 4.2 relief innings with just one run allowed and two strikeouts. He also logged a six-inning relief outing against North Carolina A&T, which says “workhorse” louder than a radar gun ever could. The fit? If a team wants a durable, competitive strike-thrower who can bridge innings or close, Barna looks like a sturdy bullpen piece with proven value in tight games.