University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Rice
No. 2 Rice Downs No. 17 Carolina, 8-2
February 27, 2004 | Baseball
Feb. 27, 2004
HOUSTON - No. 17 North Carolina (4-1) managed just two hits in 7.1 innings off Rice All-America Philip Humber, and the No. 2-ranked Owls (6-2) defeated the Tar Heels, 8-2, Friday at the Crowne Plaza/Rice Invitational at Reckling Park. The loss is Carolina's first of the young season.
Humber, who was the winning pitcher in the final game of last year's College World Series, struck out 11 and walked just two to run his record to 2-0. He has allowed just three hits and zero earned runs in 12.1 innings this season. Led by shortstop Paul Janish, who was 4-for-5 with three runs batted in, Rice's 14 hits mark the most allowed by the Tar Heel pitching staff this season.
Junior righty Garry Bakker (0-1) took the loss for the Tar Heels. In 4.1 innings, he allowed four earned runs on nine hits and four walks. He also struck out five for the second consecutive outing.
Humber breezed through the first eight batters he faced until Carolina freshman shortstop Craig Corrado reached on an error by Rice third baseman Adam Morris in the top of the third. Junior second baseman Greg Mangum then singled through the left side to extend his hitting streak to five games, and first baseman Justin Webb walked to load the bases. Right fielder Marshall Hubbard also drew a free pass to drive in Corrado and give the Tar Heels a 1-0 lead.
ut thanks to three straight singles to right field by the Owls in their half of the third, the Carolina lead was short lived. After Janish and left fielder Austin Davis reached base, Rice first baseman Matt Ueckert drove in Janish to tie the score at one.
After a pair of singles in the fourth, Rice took a 3-1 lead on a two-run double to left from Janish, who had three hits in the first four innings of the game. The Owls added four more runs to their lead in the fifth, as three walks and a throwing error by Mangum contributed to the Rice rally. Davis added an RBI single, and Janish plated another run when he reached on a fielder's choice.
The Tar Heels added a run in the eighth on a pinch hit, RBI double from Wes Moyer. The hit scored Mangum, who walked to reach base for the second time of the day. Rice quickly got that run back in the bottom of the inning on a solo homer to left by catcher Adam Rodgers off UNC reliever Bryan Phillips.
Three of Carolina's four hits were doubles, including a pair of pinch hits from Moyer and Mell Adams.
The game was delayed 13 minutes beginning at 5:52 p.m. local time due to glare off one of the buildings beyond the center field wall.
Action continues for the Tar Heels at the 2004 Crowne Plaza/Rice Invitational Saturday, when Carolina takes on Northwestern State at 5:30 p.m. EST Saturday and No. 23 Nebraska at 1 p.m. Sunday. The Huskers defeated the Demons, 8-4, earlier Friday.
