University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Michigan State (Broadway at Beach Tournament)
Tar Heels Fall to Michigan State, 3-1
February 28, 2003 | Baseball
Feb. 28, 2003
MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. - Michigan State (3-1) defeated North Carolina (5-1) 3-1 Friday afternoon at Coastal Federal Field in Myrtle Beach. The game was dominated by pitching and this marked the Tar Heels first loss of the season. The Tar Heels had nine hits as a team, but were unable to surmount the three runs that the Spartans scored in the second inning. Michigan State starting pitcher Bryan Gale pitched a complete game and shut down the Carolina offense.
Michigan State got on the board first with three runs in the top of the second inning. Travis Gulick singled to lead off the inning. Carolina starter Scott Manshack then hit James Moreno with a pitch. After a Brett Wattles single, Jim Deliz hit a sacrifie fly to center and Charlie Braun singled, driving in another Spartans run and chasing Manshack from the game after just 1.1 innings pitched.
Carolina scored its first run of the day in the bottom of the fourth inning. Jeremy Cleveland continued his hot hitting with a double to lead off the inning and later came around to score on a sacrifice fly by freshman Mike Daniel.
Freshman pitcher Matt Danford entered the game in relief of Manshack in the second inning and was very impressive in just his third collegiate appearance. Danford pitched 7.2 innings in relief and scattered just three hits and no walks while striking out eight.
Meanwhile, Gale turned a stellar performance of his own by pitching a complete game in which he gave up only one earned run while striking out seven Tar Heels.
Carolina will face St. John's Saturday at 11:30 a.m. at Coastal Federal Field in game two of the Broadway at the Beach Tournament and Coastal Carolina on Sunday at 3 p.m. to wrap up the weekend.
