University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Wake Forest
Baseball Falls 8-2 To Wake Forest
April 5, 2002 | Baseball
April 5, 2002
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - No. 7 Wake Forest shut down No. 21 North Carolina, 8-2, Friday afternoon in ACC baseball action at Hooks Stadium. The Tar Heels (21-10, 8-2) managed a season-low four hits in dropping their ninth straight game to the Demon Deacons (24-5, 7-2) over the last three seasons.
UNC starter Scott Autrey (1-2) struck out six batters and scattered six hits over six innings, but was hurt by five walks and a pair of two-run home runs by Jamie D'Antona in taking the loss. Wake's sophomore third baseman was 2-for-4 with five RBIs to lead the Deacs to the victory.
Wake's Kyle Sleeth improved to 6-0 after giving up just two runs on four hits while striking out four, and closer Dave Bush shut the door on UNC with 1.2 hitless innings out of the bullpen.
Wake led 2-1 after a sloppy first two innings that featured a combined five walks, two errors and a wild pitch. The Demon Deacons struck first when Nick Blue and Ryan Johnson both walked and scored, while the Tar Heels answered with an unearned second inning run. Chris Maples drew a one-out walk, stole second, advanced to third on a wild pitch and came home on a sacrifice fly by Chris Iannetta.
"Starting the game the way we did was exactly what we did not want to do," said UNC head coach Mike Fox. "They took advantage of our mistakes early. We kind of let it set the tone the rest of the day."
Ron Braun doubled and scored for the Tar Heels in the third to tie the game, 2-2, but Jamie D'Antona sent a two-run shot over the right center field fence for a 4-2 Wake lead. D'Antona crushed another two-run shot in the fifth for a four run Wake Forest lead and UNC could not answer.
"It's hard to muster a three or four run rally when Sleeth's out there and they have such a good bullpen," Fox said. "When you get ahead at home, it's a big advantage for you."
Wake capped the scoring with single runs in the seventh and eighth innings. Stephen Ghutzman's RBI double in the seventh pushed the Wake lead to five runs, while D'Antona drew a bases-loaded walk from Whitley Benson for the final 8-2 margin.
Russ Adams went 2-for-4 for Carolina, while Chad Prosser and Ron Braun added UNC's only two other hits.
The Tar Heels and Demon Deacons continue their weekend series Saturday at 6 p.m. at Ernie Shore Field. Sunday's 1:30 p.m. game is at Hooks Stadium.
