University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Virginia
Baseball Blows By Virginia 15-4 For 12th Consecutive Win
March 29, 2002 | Baseball
March 29, 2002
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. - North Carolina cruised past Virginia, 15-4, in front of 1,594 Friday evening at UVa Baseball Stadium. Carolina had 18 hits and scored double-digit runs for the third straight game in taking the opening game in this weekend series against the Cavaliers. Carolina has now won its first seven ACC games and 12 consecutive games overall.
UNC starter Scott Autrey struck out a career-high 12 batters and gave up just two runs on six hits to earn his first victory of the season. Russ Adams went 4-for-6 with three RBIs and Adam Greenberg was 4-for-4 and scored four runs.
"I didn't do anything differently to prepare for this game,I just felt really good out there today" said Autrey. "And as far as winning 12 in a row now, I just think that's a total team effort in all aspects of the game."
Carolina jumped out to an early lead in the first as Greenberg led off with a single and would later cross the plate on a Sean Farrell groundout, giving Autrey and the Tar Heels a 1-0 advantage.
UNC put five more runs on the board in the top of the fifth as Mell Adams and Greenberg started the inning with singles and both scored on a single down the left field line by Farrell. Greg Hansard then entered the game for the Cavaliers in relief of starter Chris Gale. After an intentional walk to hot-hitting Chris Maples, Hansard walked catcher Chris Iannetta and designated hitter Ron Braun with the bases loaded, plating Russ Adams and Farrell. Maples would score the Tar Heels final run of the inning as he scored on an errant throw from catcher Andrew Reisenfeld back to Hansard after a pitch.
Greenberg continued his role as Carolina's offensive catalyst in the top of the sixth as he led off the inning with a walk, stole second and advanced to third on another throwing error by Reisenfeld before scoring on Russ Adams' third hit of the day, a double down the left field line. Adams then stole third and scored on yet another throwing error by a Cavalier catcher, this time Scott Headd who had just come in to replace Reisenfeld. With these two runs, the Tar Heels extended their lead to 8-1.
Virginia countered with one run in their half of the sixth. Autrey loaded the bases with no outs but gave up only one run thanks to a sparkling defensive play by first baseman Ryan Blake who dove to his right to take a hit away from first baseman Robert Word. Autrey then struck out both Miguel Luina and Chris Sweet to ruin any chance of a Cavalier rally.
Carolina got two more runs in both the top of the seventh and eight innings on a two-run double by Russ Adams and two-run single by Greenberg respectively. Whitley Benson then came on to finish the game for the Tar Heels giving up two runs in two innings, including Mark Reynolds' second home run of the game. But the Tar Heel offense proved to be too much as Carolina put three more runs on the board in the ninth on a balk and RBI singles by Maples and Ron Braun
"Coming back from Auburn, we just kind of got on a roll and got some confidence down there even though we lost three," said UNC head coach Mike Fox. "We're playing with a lot of poise now, but we have to come back and do it tomorrow."
Carolina and Virginia continue their series in Charlottesville Saturday evening at 7 p.m. with the concluding game on Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m.
