University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Duke
Baseball Rallies For 10-7 Win Over Duke
April 20, 2001 | Baseball
April 20, 2001
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. -- The University of North Carolina baseball team scored 10 unanswered runs to rally from a 7-0, second-inning deficit in defeating Duke, 10-7, Friday evening in the opening-game of a three-game weekend series between the Tar Heels and Blue Devils at Boshamer Stadium. Carolina has now won 12 straight games over the Devils and five of six overall to improve to 25-18, 6-10 in the ACC. Duke drops to 18-25, 5-10 in league play.
Duke pounced on the Tar Heels with six runs in the first inning. The Blue Devils, who chased Tar Heel starter Dennis Robinson after just two outs, capitalized on a balk, a passed ball and one UNC error for four unearned runs in the inning. Duke added six hits, including two singles from leadoff hitter Kevin Kelly, before Scott Autrey, who entered the game with the bases loaded, got J.D. Alleva to fly out to end the wild top half of the first.
Duke scored another run in the second for a 7-0 lead, before Autrey shut down the Devils over the next 4.1 innings. Autrey retired 13 straight batters as the Tar Heels clawed back into the game. Autrey, who went 5.2 innings total and gave up one run on four hits, was replaced by Jason Howell with one out in the top of the seventh. Howell (6-2) gave up just one hit over the final 2.2 scoreless innings for his sixth win.
Carolina began its comeback with three runs in the bottom of the second. Sean Farrell and Ryan Blake both doubled and scored in the inning, while Jeremy Cleveland singled and scored as the Heels pulled to within 7-3.
The Tar Heels continued to chip away with another run in the fifth and two more in the sixth to cut Duke's lead to 7-6. In the fifth, Farrell had his second leadoff double of the night and again scored on an RBI single by Cleveland. Ron Braun singled and scored to get the Heels going in the sixth and Farrell's fourth hit of the game drove home Adam Greenberg from second base to pull Carolina within one run.
Carolina finally overtook the Blue Devils with a four-run seventh. Chris Maples led off the inning with his team-high-tying seventh homer of the year to knot the score at 7. Four batters later, Chad Prosser's two-run single scored Blake and Braun as the Heels jumped ahead 9-7. Ralph Roberts added a pinch-hit, sacrifice fly to drive home Prosser and give Carolina its final 10-7 margin.
Greg Burke pitched 0.2 innings out of the bullpen, giving up four runs on four hits, for the loss to fall to 2-6.
Several Tar Heels had stellar night's at the plate, as UNC racked up 16 hits in the win. Sean Farrell had a career-high four hits (4-for-5, 2 R, 1 RBI), while Greenberg was 3-for-6. Prosser, Cleveland, Blake and Braun had two hits each.
The Tar Heels and Blue Devils continue their series Saturday at 5 p.m. Sunday's series finale is set to begin at 1:30 p.m. The winner of this weekend's series will gain three points in the Carlyle Cup competition between UNC and Duke.
