University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Fresno State
Heels Top New Mexico, 7-4
June 21, 1999 | Baseball
March 9, 1999
y: Travis Everette, Carolina Baseball
Some might call Jay Madeira a "streaky" hitter. New Mexico starting pitcher rian Messer probably became one of them after watching Madeira streak a two- run blast over the right field fence in the bottom of the fifth inning Monday at Bieden Field. The shot was Madeira's only hit of the day, but it was the nails in the coffin for the Lobos as they fell to the fourth ranked Tar Heels 7-4. New Mexico dropped to 7-15 on the year, while the Heels improved to 13-0. The 13-0 mark continues the best start in school history.
The Lobos looked like they were the team to end UNC's winning ways early on. They picked up a run in the top of the first inning after Chris Armstrong walked (Snyder's only free pass of the day) and was driven in by Candelaria. Carolina answered quickly by putting three across in the bottom of the inning. The first three Heels to the plate walked, and all eventually scored. (Two on a Jarrett Shearin single and one on Tyrell Godwin's sacrifice fly.) New Mexico was not done, however, as Carolina soon found out. A Steve Elzy double and a Michael Campbell blast to right evened the score at three each. The score remained knotted until the bottom of the fifth when the Tar Heels, led by Madeira's two run dinger, added three runs. New Mexico and Carolina would each put one more on the board in the seventh, but the Lobos never really threatened to take the lead again.
Kyle Snyder (5-0) picked up the win for the Heels in one of his less dominating outings. Derrick DePriest picked up his second save of the year for Carolina. Clay Hooper, Jarrett Shearin, Tyrell Godwin, Ryan Earey, and Matt McCay all had two hits in the game, and Chris LaMarsh led the scoring with two runs. The play of the game came in the top of the fourth inning when Rob Miano made a spectacular diving catch in the gap that wowed everyone in the stadium.
Carolina returns to action Tuesday at 10:00a.m. Pacific time when they take on the Midshipmen of Navy.
