University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Clemson (ACC Tourney)
Tar Heels Roll Past Clemson, 10-2
May 22, 2003 | Baseball
May 22, 2003
SALEM, VA. - Fifth-seeded North Carolina (38-19) defeated No. 4 Clemson (38-19), 10-2 on Thursday morning at Salem Memorial Baseball Stadium. The first round of the ACC Tournament was rained out on Wednesday, but Carolina combined strong pitching and timely hitting on Thursday to move into the winners' section of the tournament bracket. UNC starter Daniel Moore gave up just two runs in eight innings pitched and Sammy Hewitt led the way offensively with three hits and three runs batted in.
The Tigers jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning. Leadoff batter Garrick Evans singled down the right field line and came around to score when Brad McCann lined a two-out single up the middle and extended his hitting streak to 16 games.
The Carolina offense exploded for five runs in the top of the third. Blair Waggett led the inning off by blasting his first career home run over the left field wall to tie the score at 1-1. A one-single by Chad Prosser followed by an error by Clemson second baseman David Slevin put runners at the corners for the Tar Heels. Sean Farrell then lined an RBI single through the left side, scoring Prosser and giving Carolina its first lead. The next batter was Hewitt who lined a two-run triple to the wall in right-center field, plating Jeremy Cleveland and Farrell. Ryan Blake's second single of the game scored Hewitt and gave UNC a 5-1 lead.
The Tar Heels added to their lead with three runs in the top of the fifth inning. With two outs, Waggett beat out an infield single to third base and McCann threw the ball errantly past first baseman Michael Johnson which allowed Blake and Wes Moyer to score. Blake had reached on his third consecutive single and Moyer drew a two-out walk. Waggett scored Carolina's eighth run when Greg Mangum reached on an RBI bunt single.
Clemson scored a run in the bottom of the fifth to make the score 8-2. Evans continued his hot hitting against Carolina when he led the inning off with his second home run of the season. Moore then walked Russell Triplett and hit Johnson with a pitch, but forced McCann to bounce a ground ball to Hewitt at third base who stepped on the base and threw to first, completing the double play.
Hewitt's 10th home run leading off the top of the seventh inning gave the Tar Heels a 9-2 advantage.
The Tar Heels will play the winner of the Florida State-Duke matchup on Friday at 5 p.m. in the second round of the ACC Tournament.
