University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Virginia
Heels Top Cavs 6-5 In The Ninth
June 21, 1999 | Baseball
April 18, 1999
Chapel Hill, N.C. -- Pinch hitter Chris LaMarsh drove in the winning run with a single with one out in the bottom of the ninth inning to give North Carolina a 6-5 win over Virginia Sunday afternoon and complete a three-game series sweep over the Cavaliers. LaMarsh's single to leftfield scored Ryan Blake from second base as the Cavs had their outfielders pulled in to try to prevent the run.
With the win, Carolina improves to 33-8 on the season, 8-7 in the Atlantic Coast Conference. Carolina won all three games over the weekend by on run, the first time the Tar Heels had swept a three-game series from an ACC opponent with three one-run victories. The last time UNC had accomplished the feat against any opponent was in 1993 versus Princeton. With the loss, Virginia fell to 15-27, 5-12 ACC.
Derrick DePriest (6-4) pitched the final 2.1 innings to pick up his second victory of the weekend, allowing one hit and an unearned run. DePriest also earned the victory in Friday night's game. Kyle Snyder, who missed his last start due to triceps tendonitis in his pitching arm, went 5.0 innings, allowing four hits and three earned runs while striking out two and walking none. Tommy Keiper (2-3) took the loss for Virginia.
Carolina grabbed a 2-0 lead in the second inning when Ryan Blake hit a two-run single that scored Ryan Earey and Tyrell Godwin. After Snyder began the game by retiring nine of 10 batters faced, the Cavaliers took a 3-2 lead when Julian Gonzalez hit a three-run home run to leftcenterfield.
Clay Hooper put the Tar Heels ahead in the bottom of the fifth when he stroked a two-run double down the rightfield line on a hit and run play, scoring Rob Miano and Dan Moylan, both of whom had walked. Hooper saved a run in the top of the fifth, diving to stop a single by Dan Street, keeping the ball from reaching the outfield and not allowing Gonzalez to score from second base. With the bases loaded and two outs, UNC reliever Michael Horney got out of the jam, striking out Ryan Kalamaya to get out of the jam.
Virginia evened the score at 4-4 in the top of the seventh. The Cavs chased Horney from the game, loading the bases with a bunt single and two walks. Chris Elmore came in to relieve Horney and got Jon Benick to ground into a double play. DePriest then came in and got Gonzalez to pop out and end the rally.
Carolina returns to action Tuesday at UNC Wilmington at 7:00 p.m.
