University of North Carolina Athletics
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California
Carolina's Bard Shuts Down California, 1-0
March 12, 2004 | Baseball
March 12, 2004
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - Freshman righty Daniel Bard (3-0) fired a complete game, two-hit shutout to lead North Carolina (11-3) to a 1-0 victory over California (10-13) Friday at Boshamer Stadium. The shutout was the third in the last four games for Carolina, who has won seven games in a row.
ard, who beat Cal ace Adam Gold (4-2) for his third win in four collegiate starts, worked the first complete game of his young career and tied a career high with six strikeouts. The Charlotte native walked just one batter and did not allow a hit after the fourth inning. Only two Cal runners reached second base all afternoon.
The complete game shutout was the first for Carolina since Scott Autrey beat James Madison, 5-0, on May 31, 2002. Bard's performance was the first such effort by a freshman since Garry Bakker blanked Virginia, 5-0, on March 30, 2002. The Tar Heel pitching staff also shutout UNC Asheville on Tuesday and St. Francis last Sunday.
The lone run of the game came on an RBI groundout by right fielder Marshall Hubbard in the fourth inning. Left fielder Jay Cox led off the frame with a double to left center and alertly advanced on a groundout to third base by catcher Chris Iannetta. Cox then game home on the ground out by Hubbard, who singled in the sixth to extend his team-best hitting streak to eight games. Hubbard also lead Carolina with 20 RBI on the year.
Gold, who allowed one run on seven hits in seven innings was the tough-luck loser. Jesse Ingram came on to pitch a scoreless eighth for the Golden Bears.
With the shutout, Bard lowers his earned run average to 0.92. He has allowed just three earned runs in 29.1 innings pitched and has struck out 24 batters.
The series continues with games scheduled for 1 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Junior Garry Bakker (1-1) will start Saturday for the Tar Heels, who are now 11-0 at home this season.
