#24 North Carolina Cruises Past Virginia Under The Lights, 15-4
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March 29, 2002
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – The University of Virginia baseball team dropped a 15-4 decision in front of 1,594 spectators this evening against the red-hot #24 North Carolina Tar Heels under the lights at the UVa Baseball Stadium. UVa, playing its first ever night game at home, couldn’t slow down the Tar Heels as UNC led from start to finish to extend its winning streak to 12 games, including seven consecutive wins in the Atlantic Coast Conference.
North Carolina took an early 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning when Adam Greenberg led off with a single before scoring two batters later on a double play groundout by Sean Farrell. UNC extended its lead to 6-0 in the top of the fifth inning when the Tar Heels scored five runs in the inning, highlighted by a two-run RBI-single to left field by Farrell.
Virginia scored its first run of the game in the bottom of the fifth inning when Mark Reynolds connected on a solo home run to deep left field, making it a 6-1 contest. However, North Carolina answered UVa’s run with two more runs of its own in the top of the sixth inning when Greenberg (walk) and Russ Adams (double) each scored to give the Tar Heels an 8-1 lead. The Cavaliers added a run in the bottom half of the inning to make it an 8-2 ballgame when Robert Word grounded out to first base to drive in David Stone, who walked three batters earlier.
The Tar Heels extended their lead to 10-2 in the top of the seventh inning when Mell Adams (fielders choice) and Greenberg (walk) each reached base and scored a run on R. Adams’ two-run RBI-double through the right side. In the top of the eighth inning, North Carolina scored two more runs to take a 12-2 lead when Greenberg hit a two-run RBI-single to drive in Chris Maples and Chad Prosser.
The Cavaliers added a run in the bottom of the eighth inning when Matt Street singled and eventually scored from third base on a throwing error to cut UNC’s lead to 12-3. But the Tar Heels added three more runs in the top of the ninth inning to jump ahead 15-3 before UVa’s Reynolds hit his second home run of the game (solo shot to left field) to make it a 15-4 contest in the bottom of the ninth inning.
UVa’s starting pitcher Chris Gale (2-2) went 4.1 innings before leaving the game due to a hand injury. Gale took the loss after allowing five runs on nine hits. UNC’s Scott Autrey went seven complete innings and allowed two runs on six hits with a game-high 12 strikeouts.
With the loss, Virginia’s record falls to 15-11 overall, 4-3 in the ACC. The win improves North Carolina’s record to 18-8 overall, 7-0 in the conference.
The Cavaliers and Tar Heels will return to action on Saturday, March 30th to compete in the second game of the three-game weekend series. First pitch is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. at the UVa Baseball Stadium.
– UVa –