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Virginia Falls To #11 North Carolina In 11 Innings, 3-2
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April 3, 2005
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – The Virginia Cavaliers (19-9, 4-6 ACC) dropped the third and final contest of a three-game Atlantic Coast Conference series against the #11 ranked North Carolina Tar Heels (24-5, 8-2 ACC) by the score of 3-2 in 11 innings at UNC’s Boshamer Stadium. The Tar Heels’ Matt Ellington drove in the game-winning run to break a 2-2 tie with an RBI-single in the bottom of the 11th inning to give North Carolina a three-game ACC series sweep over Virginia. Despite the loss, UVa starting pitcher Jeff Kamrath turned in an outstanding performance after he went 8.1 innings on the mound and allowed one run on just two hits and struck out six batters in a no-decision.
“Jeff Kamrath was tremendous today, he showed what a veteran pitcher does in a difficult situation when we were down (two games) in the series,” said UVa head baseball coach Brian O’Connor. “Ryan Zimmerman was just outstanding this weekend….and that is what he is capable of doing. He can be the best against the best…..and he showed what kind of player he is this weekend.”
After a scoreless inning of play, North Carolina took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning when Chad Flack singled to reach base before he scored a run two batters later on a sacrifice fly to left field by Jay Cox.
Virginia tied the game at 1-1 in the top of the fourth inning when Ryan Zimmerman singled to center field, stole second base, then scored a run two batters later on a RBI-double to right-center field by Sean Doolittle to make it one all.
Five scoreless innings past by and the game went into extra innings after the Cavaliers turned a pivotal double play to end the inning in the bottom of the ninth inning. In the top of the tenth inning, UVa took its first lead of the ballgame at 2-1 lead when Matt Street ripped a solo home run to left field. Street’s home run was his first of the season.
But in the bottom of the tenth inning, the Tar Heels tied the game at 2-2. Following three consecutive singles by UNC, the later was an RBI-single through the left side by Cox to drive in Ellington to knot the score at two apiece to extend the contest.
In the bottom of the 11th inning, North Carolina scored the game-winning run when Kyle Shelton singled to lead off the side before scoring a run four batters later on a RBI-single to shallow right field by Ellington to seal the game.
UVa’s Casey Lambert (1-1) took the loss after going 2.1 innings and allowed two runs on five hits to go along with one strikeout.
UNC’s Matt Danford (3-1) picked up the win after going 2.0 innings and allowed on run on two hits and struck out two batters. The Tar Heels’ Adam Kalkhof started the game and went 6.2 innings and gave up one run on six hits and struck out five batters in a no-decision.
With the loss, Virginia’s record falls to 19-9 overall, 4-6 in the ACC. The victory improves North Carolina’s record to 24-5 overall, 8-2 in the conference. The Tar Heels swept the Cavaliers three games to none in the series.
The Cavaliers will return to action on Tuesday, April 5th when Virginia travels to Lynchburg, Va. to face the Liberty Flames in a non-conference game. First pitch is scheduled for 3:00 PM.
— UVa —