University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Maryland
Baseball Beats Maryland 8-2
March 16, 2002 | Baseball
March 16, 2002
CHAPEL HILL - Ryan Blake had a career-high five hits and drove in three runs as the North Carolina baseball team beat Maryland 8-2 Saturday afternoon at Boshamer Stadium to improve to 9-8 overall and 2-0 in the Atlantic Coast Conference. Kevin Brower and Garry Bakker combined to allow just six hits in sending Maryland (14-4, 0-2 ACC) to its second consecutive loss after entering the series on a 12-game winning streak.
"Great pitching and great defense will put you in the position to win a lot of games," said UNC head coach Mike Fox. "Garry got in a little trouble there in the fifth, but Kevin came in behind him and threw a lot of strikes. I think we made them hit our pitches today. They hit a lot of ground balls and our infielders were very solid."
lake (5-for-5, three runs) drove in Russ Adams for UNC's first run in the bottom of the first and added an RBI double in the third to give the Tar Heels a 2-0 lead. Blake later scored on an error by Maryland left fielder Will Frazier and UNC led 3-0 through three innings.
Meanwhile, Bakker rolled into the fifth inning having allowed just one hit but got into trouble with one out. The Terps had two singles and drew three walks, two of which forced in runs, before Brower came in from the bullpen.
Carolina added three runs in the seventh and two in the eighth for insurance in the six-run win. Sean Farrell drove in Russ Adams from third with a sac fly to right, while Mell Adams had a two-out, two-run double in the seventh. Blake and Chris Maples drove in runs with hits in the eighth to finish the scoring for UNC.
rower (2-0) took over in the fifth and pitched a scoreless 4.1 innings to complete the game and get his second win. Brower has not allowed a run in his last 14.1 innings (eight appearances) since the season-opener on Feb. 15.
lake's five-hit game was the first by a Tar Heel since Chad Prosser went 5-for-5 last year against Maryland on April 8. Chris Iannetta (2-for-3) and Maples (2-for-5) each had a pair of hits, while Russ Adams was 1-for-2 with three runs, three walks and two stolen bases to extend his team-high hit streak to 11 games.
Todd Ainsworth (3-1) gave up three runs on seven hits over five innings for the loss.
UNC and Maryland complete their three-game set Sunday at 2 p.m. Sunday's probable starting pitchers are sophomore left-hander Daniel Moore for Carolina and junior righty Steve Schmoll for the Terrapins.
