University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Gardner-Webb
Miller Leads No. 17 Carolina Past Gardner-Webb, 5-1
February 25, 2004 | Baseball
Feb. 25, 2004
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - Freshman lefty Andrew Miller allowed no runs and just two hits over six innings in his collegiate debut to lead No. 17 North Carolina (4-0) to a 5-1 victory over Gardner-Webb (3-5) Wednesday at Boshamer Stadium. With the win, the Tar Heels open the season 4-0 for the second consecutive year.
Miller, who is rated the top freshman prospect in the nation by Baseball America, was outstanding in his first Tar Heel start, striking out four and walking just two batters. Seniors Kevin Brower, Whitley Benson and Scott Senatore combined to allowed one unearned run over the final three innings to close out the win.
At the plate, freshman left fielder Jay Cox went 3-for-3 with an RBI, and second baseman Greg Mangum and third baseman Justin Webb each added two hits to lead the Tar Heel offense. Mangum improved his average to a team-best .412.
After managing just two hits over the first four innings, the Tar Heels finally broke through with a pair of runs in the fifth. Following walks to first baseman Sammy Hewitt and Cox, center fielder Chase Younts moved both runners into scoring position with a sacrifice bunt. Shortstop Craig Corrado then drove in the first run on a sacrifice fly to right field, and Mangum plated the second with a single to left.
The Bulldogs threatened to put a run on the board in the top of the sixth when left fielder Jonathan McKoy was hit by a pitch and took second on a wild pitch. Right fielder Sammy Styres then ripped a ball to right but Marshall Hubbard made the catch and doubled McKoy off second to end the potential rally.
Hewitt increased the Carolina lead to 3-0 in the sixth when he doubled to left center and plated designated hitter Matt Ellington from first on a hit-and-run play. The hit chased GWU starter Abe Gonzalez (1-2) from the game. He allowed five hits and four earned runs in 5.1 innings. Gonzalez also struck out two and walked four.
After the Bulldogs' Zach Ward entered the game, Cox singled through the left side of the infield to score Hewitt from third and push the Carolina advantage to 4-0.
Gardner-Webb broke up the shutout in the top of the eighth when shortstop Jon David Milford drove in catcher Jim Gluekert, who doubled to start the inning, with an RBI groundout. The Tar Heels reclaimed a four-run cushion in the bottom of the inning on a sacrifice fly from Corrado.
Carolina travels to the Crowne Plaza/Rice Invitational this weekend. The Tar Heels face No. 2 Rice Friday, Northwestern State Saturday and No. 23 Nebraska Sunday.
