University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Rice
Tar Heels Hammer 7th Ranked Owls, 8-2
January 29, 2000 | Baseball
Jan. 29, 2000
By: Travis Everette, Carolina Baseball
Lake Buena Vista, Florida--The North Carolina Tar Heels improved to 2-0 on the season with an impressive 8-2 win over the seventh ranked Owls of Rice University (0-2) at the ACC Disney Baseball Blast in Walt Disney's Wide World of Sports complex. UNC's Scott Autrey (1-0) picked up the win in his first collegiate pitching appearance with 2 2/3 innings of scoreless relief. Rice pitcher Jayme Sperring took the loss and is 0-1 on the season.
Carolina's pitching was stellar from the get go as junior lefty Eric Henderson was stellar in his first start in the baby blue. Henderson went 6.1 innings only allowing 3 hits. Until he tired noticeably, Henderson was virtually untouchable. Henderson's absence left no void on the mound as big right handed Texan freshman Scott Autrey took the hill. Autrey got out of a jam early when Rice threatened to retake the lead, and he was never challenged again.
Of course, pitching can't take all of the credit for this win, for once again all the hurling staff had to do was keep the game close long enough for the powerful Tar Heel bats to awaken. Carolina broke the 2-2 knot in a big way by scoring 6 runs in the top of the ninth. Almost everyone in the Heels' batting order either scored or got a base hit in the inning. Highlights from the ninth were many, but the thrill of the day was definitely provided by sophomore Ryan Blake. Blake hit a booming triple to right-center field to drive in the tie breaking runs and give Carolina a 4-2 cushion. Then, Blake was able to complete one of the rarest baseball treats when he stole home.
In other scores from the tournament, Central Florida(1-1) defeated Wake Forest(0-2), and Clemson(2-0) shut out Miami(2-1) in the nightcap. The Tar Heels return to action on Sunday against the fifth ranked, defending national champion Miami Hurricanes in the 3:30 game while Rice will finish up the weekend against Wake Forest at 9:00 a.m.
