Virginia Baseball Knocks Off #24 North Carolina, 8-3
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March 31, 2002
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – The University of Virginia baseball team handed the North Carolina Tar Heels their first Atlantic Coast Conference loss of the season and snapped UNC’s 13-game winning streak after recording an 8-3 victory at the UVa Baseball Stadium. The Cavaliers scored six runs in the fifth inning to break open a 1-1 tie game en route to a five-run victory.
Virginia took its first lead of the series when Dan Street gave the Cavaliers a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the fourth inning when he hit his ninth home run of the year when he delivered a solo shot to left field. However, UNC tied the game at 1-1 in the top of the fifth inning when Sean Farrell singled before scoring two batters later on a RBI-single through the left side by Chris Maples.
With the game tied at one run apiece, Virginia took advantage of three costly walks and two Tar Heels errors to put six runs on the scoreboard in the bottom of the fifth inning to take a 7-1 lead. UVa’s Newton (walk), Scott Headd (fielders choice) and David Stone (walk) each reached base and scored a run before the trio of M. Street (single), D. Street (fielders choice) and Mark Reynolds (reached on an error) also crossed the plate for UVa.
North Carolina cut into Virginia’s lead in the top of the sixth inning and made it a 7-2 contest when Chad Prosser singled and scored three batters later on a RBI-double to right-center field by Adam Greenberg. UNC also added another run in the top of the seventh inning to make it a 7-3 game when Mell Adams drove Ryan Blake in to score a run on a RBI-single to left field.
But UVa extended its lead to 8-3 in the bottom of the eighth inning when Reynolds singled before scoring a run three batters later when Kyle Werman grounded out to the pitcher. That would be all the scoring Virginia would need as it cruise to a five-run victory.
UVa starting pitcher D. Street (3-0) remained undefeated on the mound and went 5.1 innings and allowed just two runs on nine hits with two strikeouts. The Cavaliers’ Chris Marinak picked up his second save of the season after going three strong innings in relief and closed the game after giving up one unearned run on two hits with a strikeout. UNC’s Daniel Moore (3-1) went just 4.1 innings and surrendered five runs (three earned) on four hits despite a game-high seven strikeouts.
With the win, Virginia’s record improves to 16-12 overall, 5-4 in the ACC. The loss drops North Carolina’s record to 19-9 overall, 8-1 in the conference. UNC won the weekend series 2-1.
The Cavaliers will return to home action on Monday, April 1st when Virginia hosts the James Madison Dukes. The contest is scheduled to begin at 3:00 p.m. and will be played at the UVa Baseball Stadium. The Tar Heels will return to home action on Tuesday, April 2nd when they host the Liberty Flames. Game time is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. at Boshamer Stadium.
— UVa —