University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Auburn
Tar Heels Fall to Auburn, 7-3
March 8, 2003 | Baseball
March 8, 2003
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - Auburn (15-3) defeated North Carolina (7-4), 7-3 on Saturday afternoon at Boshamer Stadium. The Tigers got all the scoring they needed in a six-run second inning and handed the Tar Heels a loss for the second straight day. Four different Auburn batters recorded at least two hits while Cory Dueitt pitched four scorless innings out of the bullpen for his fifth victory of the season.
Carolina put a run on the board in the bottom of the first inning. Chad Prosser led off with a single into left field and was at third with two outs. Sammy Hewitt then drove a long fly ball which hit off the center field wall. Auburn centerfielder Javon Moran fell trying to make the play, but got up quickly and got the ball to his cutoff man Chuck Jeroloman who made a perfect relay throw to the plate where Hewitt was tagged out trying for an inside the park home run.
Auburn came right back with six runs of their own in the top of the second. The Tigers loaded the bases with one out thanks to two singles and a walk. Third baseman Scott Schade then doubled into the right-center field gap, driving in two runs. Jeroloman followed with an RBI single to left which gave Auburn a 3-1 lead. The Tigers would add three more runs, putting them up 6-1 and chasing UNC starter Scott Manshack from the game. This marks the second time in as many starts that Manshack has lasted less than two innings before being pulled from the game.
The Tar Heels chipped away at Auburn's lead with a run in each of the next two innings to make the score 6-3. Jeremy Cleveland singled home Blair Waggett in the third and the speedy Waggett contributed with an RBI triple in the bottom of the fourth inning.
Auburn would tack on another insurance run thanks to two singles and a Carolina error in the top of the seventh inning.
The third and final game between Carolina and Auburn will be played Sunday afternoon at 1:30 p.m. at Boshamer Stadium. The Tar Heels continue this long homestand with games against Ball State on Monday and Tuesday. The starting time for both games is 2:00 p.m.
