University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Towson
UNC Explodes For 25 Runs Against Towson
March 22, 2000 | Baseball
March 22, 2000
Chapel Hill, N.C. -- The sixth-ranked North Carolina baseball team returned to winning form Wednesday afternoon at Boshamer Stadium by defeating the Towson Tigers 25-2. The Tar Heels (22-4) broke a four-game losing streak with its most lopsided victory since a 25-1 win at Furman in 1995, and the 23-run margin of victory ties for the third largest of all-time. The 25 runs scored is also the fifth most ever at Carolina, according to school records.
Scott Autrey was brilliant on the mound for the Tar Heels, allowing just one run on two hits in 5.1 innings for his sixth win. Aaron Sheffield, Jason King and Joey Popovich also saw action on the mound for Carolina, and the trio combined to give up only one hit and one run over the final 3.2 innings. Chris Russ took the loss for Towson, giving up 10 runs on 10 hits in 5.1 innings of work.
Coming off a 9-8 loss yesterday to Towson, the Tar Heels got off to a fast start with four runs in the first inning, highlighted by a two-run home run by Ryan Earey. The Carolina offense stayed hot, scoring six runs in the third and seven in the fourth. Clay Hooper had a two-run homer in the third, and Earey added his second home run of the game, a three-run shot, in the fourth.
Carolina added one run in the fifth, four in the sixth and three more in the seventh for the final tally.
Earey led a balanced Tar Heel attack that produced 27 hits overall with a 3-for-4 day at the plate. He also scored a career-high five runs and tied his career-best with seven RBI. Matt McCay tied a career-best with four hits, including two doubles, in five at bats. Adam Greenberg extended his hitting streak to 17 games with a 3-for-4 day at the plate, including a fifth-innning homer, and he stole two bases.
Chris Maples was a career-best 3-for-5 on the day, including two doubles, while Chad Prosser had three hits and four RBI in six at bats.
Carolina returns to ACC action as they face rival NC State in a three-game series this weekend in Chapel Hill. Game times are as follows: Friday at 3 p.m., Saturday at 1 p.m. and Sunday at 1:30 p.m.
