University of North Carolina Athletics
Baseball Opens Season This Weekend Versus James Madison
February 9, 2001 | Baseball
Feb. 9, 2001
The University of North Carolina baseball team opens its 2001 season this weekend with games Saturday (1 p.m. ET) and Sunday (1:30 p.m. ET) versus James Madison at Boshamer Stadium.
Carolina, which opens at home for the first time since 1979, welcomes 18 new faces in 2001 after losing 15 letterwinners from last year's record-setting 46-17 team. That group posted UNC's third straight 40-win season, earned a third consecutive NCAA Tournament berth and had a school-record-tying seven players drafted.
Sophomore right-hander Scott Autrey is slated to start in Saturday's season-opener with the Dukes. UNC's only returning starter, Autrey was a perfect 7-0 in 17 appearances last year. Freshman left-hander Scott Senatore will get the start on Sunday.
Despite the personnel losses, the Tar Heels have plenty of talent to build around, including last year's ACC Rookie of the Year, Adam Greenberg. Greenberg, a sophomore centerfielder from Guilford, Conn., led Carolina last year in batting average (.386), hits (98), runs (69), triples (7), stolen bases (28) and slugging percentage (.594). Sophomore catcher Ryan Blake returns to the lineup after taking a medical red-shirt last season (shoulder) and Chris Maples (third base), Chad Prosser (short stop), Russ Adams (second base) and Sean Farrell (first base/outfield) return to give the Tar Heels experience in the infield.
Carolina is coached by Mike Fox, a 1978 graduate of UNC. Fox is 87-35 in two seasons since returning to Chapel Hill.
The Tar Heels welcome Coastal Carolina (Tues., Feb. 13, 3 p.m.) and William and Mary (Wed., Feb. 14, 3 p.m.) to Boshamer Stadium next week before traveling to Mobile, Ala., for games against South Alabama, Auburn and Minnesota at the Coca Cola Classic/South Alabama Tournament (Feb. 16-18).
Admission to baseball games at Boshamer Stadium in February is free.
Dowload Your Carolina Baseball Media Guide Today (PDF Format)
