University of North Carolina Athletics
Tar Heels Welcome Wake To Open ACC Play
March 20, 2003 | Baseball
March 20, 2003
This season marks the 113th year of this rivalry. The Tar Heels have faced Wake Forest more times than any other team, with Carolina holding a 135-114-3 advantage in the 252 meetings that date back to 1891. Last season the Demon Deacons three of the teams' four meetings, including a 9-7, 11th inning win in the ACC Tournament.
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Tar Heel Notes
Cleveland Having Breakout Season
After working his way into the everyday lineup April 17 last season, he hit .356 down the stretch playing in every game. This season, he is continued where he left of the end of last year, hitting .619 in the month of February. At this point in the season, he leads the team in every major offensive category with a .466 batting average, 34 hits, six doubles, five home runs, 24 RBIs, 55 total bases and a .549 on base percentage.
He tied a school record Wednesday with five runs vs. Princeton, and was one shy of tying a school record posting nine RBIs in the same game. This season he has played first base, right field and designated hitter and has 11 multiple-hit games.
Freshmen Pitchers Start Careers Strong
Carolina's four freshman pitchers have made an immediate impact this season. Righties Matt Danford and Jonathan Hovis have teamed up with southpaws Adam Kalkhof and Zack Zuercher to throw more than one-third of the team's innings this season. In 61.2 innings pitched, the quartet has struck out 49 batters and has just a 3.65 ERA. Kalkhof leads the group with three wins and 29 strikeouts in 21.2 innings.
A key to their success has been control, allowing just 15 walks in 61.2 innings. Also group they have a 4.3:1 strikeout:walk ratio.
Tar Heels Among the ACC Leaders
The Tar Heels lead the ACC in several team and individual categories:
(All ACC information as of Monday, March 17)
Tar Heels Feast On Lefty Pitching
This season Carolina has seen success vs. left-handed pitching, hitting .407 in 56 at bats. When Wake Forest starts left-handers Tim Morley and Seth Hill on Saturday and Sunday, Jeremy Cleveland's 7-for-7 mark vs. southpaws will be on the line. Seven Tar Heel regulars are hitting above .330 vs. lefties.
Replacing Two Starters
Opening Day center fielder Chase Younts and third baseman Sammy Hewitt have missed a combined 21 games due to injury. After shuffling lineups, Mike Fox has slotted Blair Waggett into the center field. Waggett has responded, hitting .383 since Younts went down. Justin Webb has the primary duties at third base without Hewitt, and has hit .418 in those five games but has not put up middle-of-the-order power numbers that Hewitt had.
RBI Time
Three Carolina regulars have a knack for driving in runners on third base with less than 2 outs - in fact, they are perfect. Jeremy Cleveland, Sean Farrell and Chris Iannetta have not failed to drive in that run in 17 chances this season.
As a team, the Tar Heels score 73.4 percent of the time in that situation, while opponents are just of 50-percent scoring that runner.
When it comes to driving in runners in scoring position, Cleveland leads the way again with a .439 average (12-for-28). Blair Waggett has not been far behind, hitting .421 in 19 at bats.
In this situation, the team is hitting .336, just five points below the team average.
With the bases loaded, Carolina is 12-for-40 as a team (.400).
