University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Clemson
Tar Heels Lose Heartbreaker To No. 14 Clemson, 5-4
May 11, 2003 | Baseball
May 11, 2003
CLEMSON, S.C. - Clemson (34-17, 11-9 ACC) defeated North Carolina (35-16 12-8 ACC), 5-4 in ten innings on Sunday evening at Doug Kingsmore Stadium. The Tar Heels led 4-3 going into the bottom of the tenth, but were not able to hold that lead as the Tigers put two runs on the board to win the game and even the series.
Carolina got on the board with a run in the top of the first inning. Greg Mangum led off with a walk, moved to third on a single by Chad Prosser and scored when Jeremy Cleveland grounded into a double play.
Clemson pulled even with a run in the bottom of the first. Zane Green walked leading off the inning and came around to score three batters later on a single up the middle by Brad McCann.
oth starting pitchers were on cruise control after each allowing a run in the first. Kalkhof retired ten batters in a row through the fifth while Clemson hurler Jason Berken retired fourteen consecutive Tar Heels through the sixth inning.
The Tigers grabbed the lead in the bottom of the sixth inning thanks to Russell Triplett's seventh home run of the season.
The Tar Heels scored twice in the top of the eighth to claim a 3-2 lead. Cleveland singled to lead off the inning and Sean Farrell followed with a walk. After a sacrifice bunt by Sammy Hewitt, Ryan Blake lined a double into the left-center field gap, scoring both Cleveland and Farrell to put Carolina ahead by a run.
Clemson again tied the score with a run in the bottom of the eighth inning. McCann led off the inning with a single and scored the tying run on a two-out single up the middle by Jeff Hourigan.
In the top of the tenth inning, Carolina scored a run to take the lead. Adam Weaver reached on an infield single and pinch runner Blair Waggett moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Mangum. Prosser then came through with his second hit of the day, a line drive single up the middle. There was a play at the plate, but the speedy Waggett was able to score the go-ahead run from second base.
With one out in the bottom of the tenth, Clemson third baseman McCann pounded a high chopper off the plate which Blake fielded but threw errantly down the first base line, allowing McCann to take second. The next batter was David Slevin who doubled down the left field line, scoring McCann and again tying the score. After an intentional walk to Kyle Frank, designated hitter Garrick Evans lined a ball down the first base line, just out of the reach of Chris Iannetta, allowing Slevin to score the game winning run for the Tigers.
The Tar Heels and Tigers wrap up their series with the third and deciding game on Monday afternoon at 4 p.m.
