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Virginia Snaps Five-Game Losing Streak With Key 6-4 Victory Over North Carolina
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May 16, 2003
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – The University of Virginia baseball team snapped a five-game losing streak and recorded a 6-4 victory over the North Carolina Tar Heels in the first contest of an Atlantic Coast Conference doubleheader at UNC’s Boshamer Stadium. UVa watched an early 4-0 lead evaporate before the Cavaliers broke open a 4-4 tied in the top of the ninth inning to record a 6-4 decision over the Tar Heels.
In game one of the doubleheader, Virginia wasted no time and took an early 3-0 lead in the top of the first inning. Matt Dunn got things started when he singled to reach first base, stole second base, then advanced to third base on a wild pitch before coming around to score the first run of the game on a passed ball to make it 1-0. UVa’s Joe Koshansky walked and Ryan Zimmerman singled to reach base in back-to-back plate appearances for the Cavaliers before each baserunner scored a run to make it 3-0. Koshansky scored his run on a thrown after an infield single by Chris Sweet before Paul Gillispie drove in Zimmerman with a RBI-single through the right side to give Virginia a three-run cushion.
The Cavaliers extended their lead to 4-0 in the top of the second inning when Matt Street single to reach base before he came around to score a run two batters later on a RBI sacrifice fly to center field by Mark Reynolds. The four runs Virginia scored through just the first two innings of play were more runs than the Cavaliers scored combined in their previous four games (three runs scored).
North Carolina finally got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the fourth inning and made it a one-run ballgame at 4-3 with one swing of the bat when Chris Iannetta connected on a three-run home run to right-center field. Iannetta’s home run, his eighth of the season, also drove in Sammy Hewitt (double) and Ryan Blake (single).
The score remained 4-3 in favor of Virginia until the bottom of the seventh inning when Sean Farrell belted a solo home run to right field to tie the game at 4-4. Farrell’s home run was his 11th of the season.
However, with the score tied at 4-4 in the top of the ninth inning, Virginia pulled ahead for good and took a 6-4 lead when Zimmerman connected on a two out, two-run RBI single into right-center field to give the Cavaliers a two-run lead. Zimmerman’s hit drove in Street (single) to score the go-ahead run and Reynolds (walk) for an insurance run.
Virginia’s Canon Hickman (2-0) picked up the win on the mound after allowing one run on four hits to go along with a strikeout in 3.1 innings of work. UVa starting pitcher Andrew Dobies went 5.2 innings and allowed three runs on eight hits and struck out four batters in a no-decision.
UNC starting pitcher Daniel Moore lasted 6.1 innings and surrendered four runs on seven hits to go along with two strikeouts in a no-decision.
With the victory, Virginia’s record improves to 27-22 overall, 10-11 in the ACC. The loss drops North Carolina’s record to 36-18 overall, 12-10 in the conference.
The Cavaliers and Tar Heels will return to action later tonight when UVa and UNC play the evening contest of the doubleheader. First pitch is scheduled for 7:00 PM at the Tar Heels’ Boshamer Stadium.
— UVa —