University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Mississippi State (NCAA Regional)
Tar Heels Take Down Mississippi State, 8-6, In 11 Innings
June 1, 2003 | Baseball
June 1, 2003
STARKVILLE, MISS. - North Carolina (42-21) defeated Mississippi State (42-20-1), 8-6 on Sunday afternoon at Dudy Noble Field in game six of the NCAA Starkville Regional. With this victory, the Tar Heels win the Starkville NCAA Regional and advance to play South Carolina in an NCAA Super Regional. The last time Carolina won a regional and advanced to the College World Series was 1989. Sean Farrell was the offensive hero for the Tar Heels, going 4-for-6 with two home runs and four runs batted in. He tied the game in the top of the ninth with a two-run home run and knocked in the go-ahead run with a single in the top of the eleventh inning.
The Tar Heels jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the top of the second inning. Farrell led off the inning by hitting his 13th home run of the season into the left field bleachers. But Mississippi State starting pitcher Jacob Blakeney came back and struck out Sammy Hewitt, Chris Iannetta and Ryan Blake to limit the damage.
Mississippi State scored two runs in the bottom of the second to take the lead. Craig Tatum was hit by a pitch and Jeff Butts then lined a ball into right field which got by Jeremy Cleveland and rolled all the way to the wall, allowing both runners to score. The two runs were unearned as the play was ruled a single with a three-base error charged to Cleveland.
Carolina tied the score with a run in the top of the fifth inning. With one out, Mike Daniel drew a walk and moved to third on a check-swing single through the right side of the infield by Ryan Blake. The first pitch to Blair Waggett got past MSU catcher Craig Tatum, allowing Daniel to score the tying-run and Blake to move down to second. But Waggett and Chad Prosser both flew out to center to end the inning.
The Bulldogs reclaimed the lead with three runs in the bottom of the fifth. Jon Mungle and Matthew Maniscalco hit consecutive singles to lead off the inning. Carolina starter Garry Bakker came back and retired the next two batters, but with two outs, Brad Corley ripped a single into center field, scoring Mungle with the go-ahead run. After Bakker walked Robby Goodson to load the bases, Tatum came through with a single which scored Maniscalco and Corley.
Trailing 6-2 in the top of the eighth, Carolina cut the Bulldogs' lead to three runs. Three consecutive two-out singles by Hewitt, Iannetta and pinch-hitter Wes Moyer made the score 6-3. MSU reliever Jonathan Papelbon struck out Blake to end the inning and the comeback attempt.
 Members of the North Carolina baseball team celebrate after defeating Mississippi State 8-6 in 11 innings to win an NCAA Starkville Regional.  |
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The Tar Heels rallied again in the top of the ninth inning. Waggett led off with a double into the left-center field gap and scored when Greg Mangum followed with an RBI double down the right field line. With a full count, Papelbon then struck Prosser out swinging to record out number one. Cleveland became the second out when he struck out swinging, but with two outs, Farrell stepped up to the plate and hit a dramatic, game-tying home run into the left field bleachers and was mobbed at home plate by his teammates. The next batter was Hewitt who hit a ball which looked like a go-ahead home run, but Joseph Hunter jumped up, reached over the wall and took a home run away from Hewitt and the Tar Heels.
Carolina put together the game-winning rally in the top of the eleventh inning. With one out, Prosser doubled down the left field line, his first hit of the game. After an intentional walk to Cleveland, Farrell came through once again with a line drive single up the middle, scoring Prosser with the go-ahead run. Hewitt then singled sharply to left, loading the bases with just one out. After a pitching change, Iannetta walked, forcing Cleveland home from third with the second run of the inning.
