University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Charlotte
Tar Heels Hold On To Defeat Charlotte, 9-7
April 1, 2003 | Baseball
April 1, 2003
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. -North Carolina (20-9, 3-3 ACC), defeated Charlotte (11-13) 9-7 on Tuesday evening at Boshamer Stadium. The Tar Heels used six pitchers and overcame five errors to pick up their 20th win of the season. Five different Carolina batters recorded two hits and Kevin Brower pitched 1.1 innings of scoreless relief to earn his second victory while Whitley Benson recorded the final four outs, notching his third save.
Charlotte jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the top of the first. Thomas Bowker reached base on an error to lead off the game and came around to score on an RBI single by George Sandel.
The Tar Heels scored four runs in the bottom of the third to take the lead. Ryan Blake led off with a single and with one out, Greg Mangum walked. Chad Prosser then executed a perfect hit and run by punching a single through the hole between first and second and knocking in Blake. Mangum came around with the go-ahead run on an RBI single by Sean Farrell. With two outs, Chris Iannetta kept the rally going by knocking a single to left which scored Prosser and Farrell.
The 49ers matched the Tar Heels with four runs of their own in the top of the fourth inning. Charlotte took advantage of three singles, three Carolina errors and a wild pitch by Scott Manshack to reclaim the lead, 5-4.
Carolina grabbed a two-run lead in the bottom of the fifth. Prosser doubled leading off the inning and Farrell followed with his second single of the game. Jeremy Cleveland then ripped a single into left field, scoring Prosser and tying the game. With the bases loaded and just one out, Mike Daniel was hit by a pitch, allowing Farrell to score the go-ahead run. Cleveland then came home when Blake hit a long sacrifice fly to center field, putting UNC ahead 7-5.
With two outs and the scored tied in the bottom of the sixth, Farrell drew a walk for Carolina and scored on a clutch RBI double by Cleveland, making it an 8-7 ballgame.
The Tar Heels return to action Wednesday at Boshamer Stadium with a game against Coastal Carolina at 6 p.m. Carolina will then host the #14 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets for a three-game series this weekend.
