University of North Carolina Athletics
Baseball Hosts Seton Hall For Three-Game Set This Weekend
February 23, 2001 | Baseball
Feb. 23, 2001
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The 6-2 UNC baseball team is back in action this weekend with three games versus Seton Hall. The Tar Heels and Pirates battle Friday at 3 p.m., Saturday at 1 p.m. and Sunday at 1:30 p.m.
UNC PITCHING ROTATION
Friday - Scott Autrey (1-1, 8.00 ERA)
Saturday - Daniel Moore (1-0, 3.86 ERA)
Sunday - Scott Manshack (1-0, 2.70 ERA)
TAR HEELS HOST SETON HALL
After opening a 13-game homestand on Wednesday with a 10-6 win over High Point, Carolina hosts Seton Hall for a three-game series this weekend at Boshamer Stadium. The Tar Heels have hosted the Pirates each February since 1988 and have won 29 of the 37 all-time meetings, including three games last year. Carolina outscored SHU 30-13 in last year's three-game sweep.
FOX HAS HEELS CLICKING IN FEBRUARY
Off to a 6-2 start in 2001, the Tar Heels are 26-2 now under third-year head coach Mike Fox in the month of February. Carolina, 10-0 in both 1999 and 2000 in February, got off to school-record 16-0 and 21-0 starts in Fox's first two years.
HEELS HAVE BEEN HARD TO BEAT IN CHAPEL HILL VS NON-ACC FOES
Since 1998, Carolina is 67-2 in non-conference home games. Carolina's only two losses have come at the hands of Towson and Seton Hall. The Tar Heels lost last year 9-8 to Towson and in 1998 to the Pirates.
BIG INNINGS HELP HEELS TO EARLY WINS
Despite suffering lopsided losses to South Alabama (13-1) and Auburn (11-1) at the Coca Cola Classic in Mobile, Ala., last weekend, Carolina is still outscoring its opponents 66-55. That's due in large part to UNC's ability to pile up runs in a hurry. The Tar Heels have scored five or more runs in six different innings this year, including a nine-run outburst in the third inning of Carolina's season-opening 23-9 win over James Madison. Carolina used a six-run fifth against High Point on Wednesday to erase a 3-0 deficit.
NINTH INNING MAGIC PROPELS HEELS TO WINS OVER JMU AND MINNESOTA
Twice already in eight games Carolina has entered the ninth inning trailing 6-4 only to pull out 7-6 wins with three runs in the bottom of the ninth in both games. On Feb. 11 against James Madison, UNC trailed 6-2 before it got one run in both the seventh and eighth innings and three in the ninth on a bases-clearing triple by Russ Adams for the win. On Feb. 18 versus Minnesota, the Tar Heels trailed 6-2 entering the eighth, but got two runs in the bottom half of that inning and then three more in the ninth for another dramatic 7-6 victory. Adams was again the hero, driving in the game-winning run with a single.
LONE SENIOR GETTING IT DONE ON THE MOUND AND AT THE PLATE
Stocked with 15 freshmen, Carolina has just one senior on its 2001 roster, transfer Jason Howell. A three-year letterwinner at Appalachian State University, Howell enrolled at UNC in the fall and has made an immediate impact for the Tar Heels in the young season. Howell has seen time as the DH, at first base and on the mound and he leads the team with a .409 batting average (9-for-22). Howell's also pitched 8.0 scoreless innings of relief, striking out five batters and earning one win and one save in three appearances.
RUSS ADAMS ON FIRE
Russ Adams, who ranked fifth on the team with a .322 batting average as a freshman in 2000, is off to a great start to his sophomore season. Adams has hit in six of eight games, including a team-high five multi-hit games, for a .353 average. He also leads the team with 12 hits (five for extra bases), 10 runs and he's 5-for-8 (.625) with four RBIs and four runs in the last two games.
BLAKE MAKES HEALTHY RETURN
After losing All-ACC catcher Dan Moylan to last year's draft, it was important for Ryan Blake to make a healthy return to the lineup after missing the majority of last year recovering from surgery on his right rotator cuff. The red-shirt sophomore has not disappointed, playing solid both offensively and defensively. At the plate, Blake has hit safely in four of eight games and is batting .333 (8-for-24) with three doubles and four RBIs. He's also scored eight times.
