University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Winthrop
Baseball Falls To Winthrop, 3-2
March 28, 2001 | Baseball
March 28, 2001
FORT MILL, S.C. - The University of North Carolina baseball team fell 3-2 to Winthrop Wednesday evening at Knights Stadium in Fort Mill, S.C. It was the first of nine straight road games for the Tar Heels, who fell to 17-12 overall with the loss. Winthrop improved to 23-5-1 with the win.
Jason Colson was the hero for the Eagles, recording a career-best 13 strikeouts over 8.0 innings for the Eagles in the victory.
Freshman Carlos de la Rionda provided the game-winning run on a two-out single in the bottom of the seventh, scoring Bryan Snyder. Stas Swerdzewski got a one-out single and was replaced on the base paths by Snyder. Todd Friedman then doubled to left center and runners were at second and third. North Carolina brought in Daniel Moore and Winthrop Coach Joe Hudak countered with Ben Thurmond, however Thurmond struck out swinging. Then de la Rionda delivered the single to right.
Winthrop got on the board first in the second inning when Bennett Stapf took a Ralph Roberts offering over the wall in left center. North Carolina struck back in the fourth inning with a solo home run of its own, by Sean Farrell, down the left field line. The Eagles grabbed the lead again on an RBI triple by de la Rionda.
Colson improved to 4-1 on the season by allowing two runs on nine hits, no walks and the 13 strikeouts. Colson did give up nine hits, but the timing of his strikeouts were the key to his success. In the eighth he allowed a lead-off single. He then struck out the next two batters, advanced the runner to third on a throwing error to first base and then struck out the fourth batter to end the inning. Ryan Chenard worked two batters in the ninth for his first save on the season.
Farrell led the way for the Tar Heels, batting 3-for-4, including the fourth inning solo homer, and Jason Howell finished 2-for-4. Roberts made his first career start for the Tar Heels and allowed two runs on five hits in 5.0 innings. Dennis Robinson suffered the loss and fell to 1-2 on the year.
The Tar Heels face NC State this weekend for a three-game series in Raleigh. Game times are 7 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and 1:30 p.m. on Sunday.
