University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Monmouth
Tar Heels Hold Off Monmouth, 5-4
March 15, 2003 | Baseball
March 15, 2003
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. -North Carolina (12-5) defeated Monmouth (1-8), 5-4 in the first game of Saturday's doubleheader at Boshamer Stadium. Every Tar Heel starter contributed at least one hit and freshman reliever Jonathan Hovis pitched four strong innings, giving up just two hits and no runs to collect his first career victory.
The Tar Heels put two runs on the board in the bottom of the third inning to take an early lead. Greg Mangum led off with a double and later scored on a sacrifice fly by Jeremy Cleveland. Carolina scored their second run when cleanup batter Ryan Blake ripped a single to center. Justin Webb moved to third on the play and came home on a throwing error by centerfielder Frank Pilitowski.
Monmouth came right back with three runs of their own in the top of the fourth. With one out, Pilitowski doubled down the left field line. The next batter was Nick Massari who launched a home run to right field, the first home run given up by starting pitcher Bakker this season. An RBI single by shortstop Mike Kelly gave the Hawks a one-run lead.
Trailing 4-2 in the bottom of the sixth, Carolina scored two runs to tie the score at four. Designated hitter Wes Moyer, making just his sixth start of the season, brought the Tar Heels within a run with a solo homer to right, his second home run of the season. Blair Waggett followed with a double down the left field line and came around to eve the score on Webb's second single of the day.
The Tar Heels went ahead thanks to a two-out RBI single by Chad Prosser in the bottom of the seventh. Blake led off the inning with his second hit of the day and came around to score on Prosser's ninth RBI of the season.
Carolina returns to action next week with two home games against Princeton on Tuesday and Wednesday. The starting time for both games will be 3 p.m. The Tar Heels then host Wake Forest for three games next weekend at Boshamer Stadium to begin ACC conference play.
