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April 2, 2005

Box Score

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – The Virginia Cavaliers (19-8, 4-5 ACC) dropped a 10-5 decision to the #11 ranked North Carolina Tar Heels (23-5, 7-2 ACC) in the second contest of a three-game Atlantic Coast Conference series at UNC’s Boshamer Stadium. In another drawn out affair, the Cavaliers and Tar Heels battled through two rain delays which totaled two hours and 27 minutes (first delay was an hour and 35 minutes, second delay was 52 minutes). Virginia and North Carolina finished off today’s nine inning game in just over five hours of duration after coming off the heels of a 14 inning, four hour and 40 minute marathon in game one of the series on Friday night.

Despite the loss, UVa’s Ryan Zimmerman continued his sensational performance for the series and just missed hitting for “the cycle” by a double after going 3-for-4 at the plate with three RBI and two runs after posting a home run, a triple and a single today. On Friday, Zimmerman went 5-for-6 at the plate with three runs and one RBI with a double and four singles. In two games of the series against UNC, Zimmerman is 8-for-10 at the plate with five runs, four RBI, a home run, a triple, a double, five singles and also walked twice.

Virginia wasted no time establishing a lead and came out swinging. Just like in game one of the series, Virginia took a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning by scoring a pair of runs. Zimmerman got things started with a two-out single through the left side before Sean Doolittle hit a two-run home run to left field. Doolittle’s home run was his team-leading fifth of the season. But just like in game one again, North Carolina tied the contest at 2-2 in the bottom of the first inning. This time, on a two-run home run by Chad Flack that also scored Jay Cox who singled to reach base. Flack’s home run was his fifth of the season.

Virginia regained the lead in the top of the third and took a 4-2 advantage on another two-run home run, this time after Zimmerman tattooed the scoreboard in left-center field with a two-run bomb. Zimmerman’s home run was his fourth of the season and gave the Cavaliers a two-run advantage.

But North Carolina answered right back and tied the game again, this time at 4-4 in the bottom of the third inning. After Greg Mangum walked and Cox singled to put runners on the corners, Justin Webb drove them both in with a two-run double down the right field line to knot the score at four apiece.

The Tar Heels took their first lead of the game at 6-4 in the bottom of the fourth inning when Matt Ellington walked before Seth Williams drilled a two-run home run to make it a 6-4 contest. Williams’ home run was his seventh of the year.

UVa cut UNC’s lead to one run at 6-5 when Matt Street reached base on a fielder’s choice before he scored a run one batter later on a RBI-triple down the right field line by Zimmerman to pull the Cavaliers to within one run of the Tar Heels.

But North Carolina came right back in the bottom of the seventh inning and took its biggest lead of the game at 10-5 by posting a four-run side that essentially put the game away. The Tar Heels’ Webb crushed a three-run home run to left-center field to make it a 9-5 ball game. Webb’s home run plated Mangum (walked) and Cox (singled) on the play. Two batters later, Ross Cook singled before he eventually scored a run on a RBI-double down the left field line by Williams to stretch UNC’s lead to five runs at 10-5.

UVa starting pitcher Mike Ballard (5-2) took the loss after he went 3.0 innings and allowed six runs on five hits to go along with one strikeout before he was replaced by Michael Schwimer. Schwimer went 3.0 innings himself and gave up three runs on three hits and struck out one batter. He gave way to Alex Smith who closed out the game by going 2.0 innings and allowed one run on one hits to go along with two strikeouts.

UNC starting pitcher Daniel Bard (5-2) picked up the win and went 7.0 innings and allowed five runs on seven hits and struck out a game-high five batters. Bard came back to take the mound following both rain delays.

With the loss, Virginia’s record falls to 19-8 overall, 4-5 in the ACC. The victory improves North Carolina’s record to 23-5 overall, 7-2 in the conference. UNC takes a two games to none lead in the series.

The Cavaliers and Tar Heels will return to action on Sunday, April 3rd to play the third and final contest of the three-game series. First pitch is scheduled for 1:30 PM at UNC’s Boshamer Stadium.

— UVa —

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