University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Mississippi State (NCAA Regional)
Tar Heels Knock Off Mississippi State, 10-5
May 31, 2003 | Baseball
May 31, 2003
STARKVILLE, MISS. -North Carolina (41-21) defeated No. 1 seed and host Mississippi State (41-19-1), 10-5 on Saturday afternoon at Dudy Noble Field in game four of the NCAA Starkville Regional. Carolina starting pitcher Adam Kalkhof had his shortest outing of the season as a starter, going just 1.2 innings while walking four batters, allowing three hits and two runs. But Matt Danford pitched 6.1 outstanding innings of relief for the Tar Heels, giving up just three hits and one run to pick up his third victory of the season. UNC got all the offense it needed by scoring multiple times in the third, fourth and fifth innings.
Mississippi State struck first with two runs in the top of the second inning. Robby Goodson led off with a single to center and Thomas Berkery followed with a walk. Joseph Hunter then doubled into the left-center field gap, scoring Goodson and moving Berkery to third. A sacrifice fly by Jeff Butts scored Berkery with the Bulldogs' second run. With the bases loaded and two outs, Carolina reliever Matt Danford entered the game and threw three straight balls to Brad Corley but came back with three strikes in a row to end MSU's scoring threat.
The Tar Heels went ahead with three runs in the bottom of the third. Three consecutive singles with one out by Chris Iannetta, Blair Waggett and Greg Mangum loaded the bases for Chad Prosser who ripped a two-run double down the left field line. Carolina grabbed the lead when Mangum scored from third on a groundout to shortstop by Jeremy Cleveland.
Carolina extended its lead with four runs in the bottom of the fourth inning. Sammy Hewitt and Iannetta reached on walks and Waggett beat out a bunt single down the third base line to load the bases with two outs. Mangum then stepped up to the plate and blasted a grand slam home run over the right field wall, giving the Tar Heels a five run lead. This was only Mangum's second career home run and his first grand slam.
The Tar Heels tacked on three more runs in the bottom of the fifth. Cleveland walked, Sean Farrell doubled and Hewitt walked to load the bases with no outs. Mississippi State reliever Brett Cleveland then struck out Ryan Blake and got Mike Daniel to pop up to short center field, bringing Iannetta to the plate with two outs. The Carolina first baseman ripped the first pitch he saw off of the wall in left-center field, scoring all three runners and putting UNC up 10-2.
Mississippi State tried to rally in the top of the ninth inning. Pinch hitter Tyler Scarbrough singled, Jon Mungle walked and Brad Jones singled to load the bases with no outs. Matthew Maniscalco reached on a fielder's choice which scored Scarbrough from third. A two-out, bases loaded single by Corley scored Mungle and Maniscalco to bring MSU within five runs. But Whitley Benson recorded the final out for Carolina, ending the rally and the game.
Carolina takes a 2-0 record into game six of the NCAA Regional at Starkville on Sunday afternoon at 1:30 p.m. CT. The Tar Heels will again play Mississippi State for a chance to advance to a super regional. The Bulldogs eliminated Missouri on Saturday night but must defeat Carolina twice in order to advance. The Tar Heels will have two chances to win one game and move on. Listen to all of Championship Sunday's action live by clicking here.
