University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Seton Hall
Baseball Rallies For 7-5 Opening Day Win
February 15, 2002 | Baseball
Feb. 15, 2002
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CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - Sophomore catcher Ron Braun hit a three-run, walk-off home run in the bottom of the ninth inning Friday afternoon at Boshamer Stadium to lead No. 19 North Carolina to a 7-5 win over Seton Hall in the baseball season-opener for both schools. Trailing 4-1, the Tar Heels scored six runs over the final three innings to rally for the victory.
"It's the great thing about baseball -- it's not over until you want it to be over," head coach Mike Fox said. "I was proud of our team even if we had lost. We know it's a long season, but we'll take this one."
Seton Hall starter Isaac Pavlik was in control of the game through the first seven innings, allowing just one earned run on four hits, as the Pirates built a 4-2 lead. But Carolina got to the lefty in the bottom of the eighth. Russ Adams drew a leadoff walk and Sean Farrell's homer to left tied the game, 4-4. Carolina threatened for more, loading the bases off reliever Jayson Rodriguez, before freshman Mike Santmyer came on to strike out Adam Greenberg to end the inning and the Carolina rally.
Seton Hall third baseman Todd Crawford, who homered in the fourth inning and finished 2-for-4, doubled home the go-ahead in the top of the ninth inning to give the Pirates a 5-4 lead. But Adams, a preseason All-America pick, had a one-out single and Farrell drew a walk to set the table for Braun's game-ending heroics. Braun, who had hit the ball well but was 0-for-3 coming to the plate, crushed the ball to left off of Chris Carter.
"Hitting the winning home run was one of the greatest things I have done in my career so far," Braun said. "We were down by three runs, but we didn't hang our heads. We just kept playing hard. It was a great team effort."
Greenberg scored UNC's first run of the season and finished the game 2-for-4, including a leadoff double in the bottom of the first, while Adams was 2-for-3 with one RBI and two runs scored. Farrell also scored twice for the Heels, who were held to seven hits but drew nine walks.
Freshman Carter Harrell struck out two batters in the ninth inning for the win, while UNC starter Scott Autrey was also solid. The junior right-hander struck out a career-high seven batters, including four of the first seven batters he faced, over 4.2 innings. Overall, five Tar Heel pitchers combined to strike out 14 Pirates.
Carolina, winners of five straight season-openers, has now won 11 straight games against Seton Hall. The two teams have met in Chapel Hill each year since 1988.
The Tar Heels and Pirates resume their three-game set Saturday at 1 p.m. Sunday's series finale begins at 2 p.m. Admission to all home games in February is free.
