University of North Carolina Athletics
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East Carolina
Baseball Routs East Carolina, 10-1
April 30, 2002 | Baseball
April 30, 2002
CHAPEL HILL - No. 7 North Carolina routed 14th-ranked East Carolina, 10-1, Tuesday evening in college baseball action at Boshamer Stadium. UNC, which has allowed just one run over its last 21.2 innings and a combined 15 hits over the last three games, has won nine of its last 10 games to improve to 34-15. ECU falls to 33-11-1 after suffering its most lopsided loss of the season.
Making the first start of his collegiate career after 46 relief appearances over the last two seasons, sophomore right-hander Whitley Benson (2-1) scattered five hits over six shutout innings, the longest outing of his career, for the win. ECU starter Jason Mandryk (5-2) last just 1.1 innings and took the loss.
"Whitley really stepped up big for us," said UNC head coach Mike Fox. "We were hoping to maybe get three innings out of him and then just piece the rest of the game together, but he gave us a lot more than that. This was a huge boost to his confidence."
Adam Greenberg led off the game with his 14th home run of the season and his sixth leadoff shot of 2002. Sean Farrell singled and scored on a sacrifice fly by Jeremy Cleveland, and the Tar Heels, who lost 2-1 to ECU on April 17, led 2-0.
"Adam's home run got us off on a good note," Fox said. "It kind of set the message that we came to play tonight."
The Tar Heels sent 12 batters to the plate in the second inning and blew the game open with six runs. Greenberg had an RBI single, Cleveland ripped a two-run double, Greg Mangum had a two-run single and Chad Prosser drew a bases-loaded to cap the scoring in the inning. Carolina chased Mandryk three batters into the second inning and just five batters faced Ashley Capps before Jason Tourangeau got the Pirates out of the second.
UNC went ahead 10-0 with a pair of runs in the fourth inning. Ron Braun drew one of 10 walks issued by five ECU pitchers on the evening, and scored on a Russ Adams single, while Prosser singled and scored an unearned run on a throwing error by catcher Clayton McCullough.
ECU reserve right fielder Brian Cavanaugh drew a leadoff walk from Kevin Brower and later scored on a Brower wild pitch for the Pirates' lone run of the night. ECU's run ended a 20-inning shutout streak by UNC's pitching staff
Greenberg, Adams, Maples and Cleveland all had two hits to pace an 11-hit Carolina attack. Maples doubled in the first inning to move into a tie for the sixth most doubles in a single season at UNC with 20. Cleveland matched a career-high with three RBIs. Greenberg, who has homered to lead off a game nine times in his career, has hit safely in 12 straight games, matching his season-high.
"Adam gives us so much with his power," Fox said. "If he's not an All-American, then we won't have one here. He's had a phenomenal year, I think better than the one he had two years ago (2000 ACC Rookie of the Year). He's showing his true versatility, with speed and power. And that's a rare combination in baseball."
The Tar Heels play their final regular-season home game Wednesday at 6 p.m. vs. Appalachian State before breaking for final exams.
