University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Clemson
Baseball Blows By No. 1 Clemson, 12-5
April 14, 2002 | Baseball
April 14, 2002
CHAPEL HILL - North Carolina rebounded from tough losses on Friday and Saturday to No. 1 Clemson with a 12-5 win Sunday afternoon at Boshamer Stadium. The 21st-ranked Tar Heels exploded for seven runs in the third inning against the Tigers, who used six pitchers in the game and allowed their most runs of the season in falling to 30-4, 7-2 in the ACC. Carolina is 25-13, 10-5 in the league and has five wins against ranked teams, including four against the No. 1 ranked team in the country, this season.
Carolina rocked Clemson for 14 hits, including two each by Adam Greenberg, Russ Adams, Sean Farrell, Chris Maples, Chris Iannetta, Ron Braun and Mell Adams. Meanwhile, Carter Harrell (6-3) came on in relief of Daniel Moore in the fourth inning and went the distance, allowing just one run on four hits while striking out six for his team-best sixth win. Clemson starter B.J. LaMura took the loss to fall to 3-1.
"We played lights out today, we played with a little chip on our shoulder," said Carolina head coach Mike Fox. " I was really proud of the way we played."
One day after matching their season-low with just two runs in a 4-2 loss, the Tar Heels pounded out seven runs in the bottom of the third inning. Carolina loaded the bases with no outs for Russ Adams, who doubled to right to drive in Braun and Mell Adams. Farrell followed with a two-run single and UNC led 4-0. Farrell later scored on a balk by reliever Ryan Childs, Maples doubled and scored and Iannetta singled and scored on a sac fly by Chad Prosser to cap the scoring in the big inning.
But Clemson got to Moore, who had been perfect through the first three innings, in the fourth. The Tigers loaded the bases with two singles and a walk and slugger Jeff Baker crushed a grand slam to pull Clemson to within 7-4. It was Baker's 13th home run of the season and brought out Harrell from the bullpen to close out the inning.
Iannetta singled and scored on a single by Braun in the fifth and Greenberg singled and scored on a wild pitch in the sixth as Carolina extended its lead to 9-4.
Harrell went through the lineup unscathed but got into trouble in the seventh, allowing consecutive singles to Jarrod Schmidt and Russell Triplett with one out. Pinch hitter Jeff Hourigan knocked a double into the gap in right to score Schmidt, but Mell Adams, Prosser and Iannetta completed a perfect 9-4-3 relay to get Triplett out at the plate. Harrell struck out Collin Mahoney to end the inning and preserve a 9-5 Carolina lead.
Greenberg, Farrell and Maples all drove in runs in the eighth to cap the scoring and give Carolina the 12-5 victory.
"We kept scoring at the end, which is important to do against Clemson," Fox said. "You have to keep scoring. You can't rely on one seven-run inning. They'll come back and beat you - they are that good offensively. The game's never over, especially against the No. 1 team in the country."
The Tar Heels hit the road for a 7 p.m. game at East Carolina on Wednesday before returning to Boshamer Stadium for a three-game series this weekend vs. NC State.
