University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Nc Wilmington
Baseball Tops UNC Wilmington, 6-3, For Third Straight Win
February 26, 2002 | Baseball
Feb. 26, 2002
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - The University of North Carolina baseball team defeated UNC Wilmington 6-3 Tuesday afternoon at Boshamer Stadium, limiting the Seahawks to four hits in the victory. The Tar Heels opened the season 1-3 but have won three straight and head into a weekend series with California with a 4-3 record. UNC Wilmington falls to 8-2 with the loss.
Russ Adams was 2-for-3 with two runs scored and three stolen bases and Jeremy Cleveland was 2-for-4 with one run scored and an RBI, while Adam Greenberg drove in two runs and scored once to lead UNC at the plate.
UNC freshman Carter Harrell, making his first start after four relief appearances, pitched well through the first four innings but struggled in the fifth. Harrell struck out the game's first two batters and held the Seahawks hitless until an RBI double in the fifth by Brad Denson drove in Peter Grimm from second and gave Wilmington a 1-0 lead. Harrell walked two more in the inning to load the bases before a sharp hit back to the mound by Zach Harris drove in the game's second run.
Carolina answered with four runs in the bottom of the fifth to go ahead 4-2. Cleveland singled and scored on a pinch hit, two-out double by Ryan Blake for Carolina's first run. Greenberg added a two-run double to push UNC ahead 3-2 and he eventually stole third and scored on a throwing error by UNCW catcher Eric Mitchell.
Denson drove in his second run of the game and UNCW's third with an RBI single in the sixth, while Cleveland drove in Russ Adams in the bottom of the inning to push UNC back on top by two runs, 5-3. Chris Iannetta drove in the game's final run with a short pop single to right in the eighth.
Scott Manshack (1-0) pitched 1.2 innings out of the bullpen for the win, while Whitley Benson pitched two scoreless innings for his second save. Brian Whitaker (2-2) went 6.1 innings, allowing five runs on six hits for the loss.
"We pitched well, only allowing four hits," said UNC head coach Mike Fox, whose team also played solid defense, turning two double plays and committing no errors. "You have to start with pitching. I thought all of our guys were effective today, and certainly Whitley pitched real well at the end."
Carolina's game against Elon, originally slated for Wednesday at 3 p.m., has been rescheduled for April 29 at 6 p.m. due to poor weather forecast for the Triangle.
