University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Georgia Tech
Late Runs Lift Georgia Tech Over UNC, 12-9
May 18, 2002 | Baseball
May 18, 2002
ATLANTA, GA. - Clifton Remole ripped a two-out, three-run double to right in the bottom of the eighth inning to break a 9-9 tie and send Georgia Tech to a 12-9 win over No. 6 North Carolina Saturday afternoon at Russ Chandler Stadium. The eighth-ranked Yellow Jackets, who won Friday's series-opener 7-4, improve to 44-11 overall and 14-8 in the ACC, while the Tar Heels fall to 38-17, 16-7 in the league with Sunday's series-finale the final regular season game for both teams.
Jeff Watchko (10-1) pitched the final 1.2 scoreless innings for the win, while Michael Gross (6-4) took the loss after giving up three runs on two hits and three walks in 2.0 innings. Carolina walked nine batters overall and allowed 15 Yellow Jacket hits in defeat.
"When you score nine runs you should have a chance to win, but we just couldn't get them out," said UNC head coach Mike Fox. "They're a good hitting team and we didn't make good pitches when we needed to. We had our chances, but we just couldn't get the big hit, and their guy (Remole) stepped up and got it with the bases loaded and two outs."
The Tar Heels came out swinging early, with three runs in the first and three more in the second coming on a three-run home run by Sean Farrell, but Tech answered each time to keep the game close. The Yellow Jackets got back one run in the first on a balk by UNC starter Garry Bakker and cut the gap to 6-4 in the second on a three-run home run by Wes Rynders.
Trailing 6-4, the Yellow Jackets went on top 7-6 with three runs in the third inning against reliever Scott Manshack. Tyler Parker, Matthew Boggs and Eric Patterson each drove in a run in the third for Georgia Tech.
Carolina came back with a pair of runs in the fourth to move back ahead, 8-7. Adam Greenberg doubled and scored his third run of the game, while Russ Adams singled and scored the go-ahead run.
ut Georgia Tech reclaimed the lead, 9-8, with a two-run sixth inning off of Carter Harrell, who pitched 3.2 innings out of the bullpen for the Tar Heels.
The Tar Heels pulled even in the eighth inning, 9-9, when Chris Maples hit into a fielder's choice that drove home Chad Prosser, who had a big 4-for-5 day at the plate to lead UNC's 13-hit attack. Watchko struck out Ron Braun with the bases loaded to end the eighth and keep the game knotted at 9-9.
In the bottom of the eighth Jason Perry singled and Matthew Boggs and Rynders drew consecutive walks from Gross to load the bases and set the stage for Remole's game-winning double.
Carolina and Georgia Tech conclude their series Sunday at 1:30 p.m. before heading to St. Petersburg, Fla., for the 2002 ACC Tournament.
