University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
California
Bakker, Tar Heels Blank Golden Bears, 4-0
March 13, 2004 | Baseball
March 13, 2004
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - Junior right-hander Garry Bakker allowed just four hits over seven shutout innings to lead North Carolina (12-3) to a 4-0 victory and its second consecutive shutout of California (10-14) Saturday at Boshamer Stadium. The Tar Heels, who have won eight games in a row and are 12-0 at home, have tossed four shutouts in their last five games for the first time since the 1911 season.
akker (2-1) enjoyed his longest start of the year and picked up his second consecutive win. Against the Golden Bears, he allowed just six base runners in seven innings of work and pushed his consecutive scoreless inning streak to 13. Bakker lowered his earned run average to 2.82, and the Carolina staff now sports a 2.56 mark on the year. Seniors Kevin Brower, Scott Senatore and Michael Gross worked the eighth and ninth innings to preserve the win. The Tar Heels have tossed 18 consecutive scoreless innings against Cal and also shutout UNC Asheville on Tuesday and St. Francis last Sunday.
At the plate, Carolina was led by junior shortstop Greg Mangum, who went 3-for-3 with two runs scored. He has hit safely in each of the last eight games. Left fielder Jay Cox added a pair of hits, and catcher Chris Iannetta reached base four times and drove in two runs.
Just like Friday's game, Carolina scored its first run on an RBI groundout by junior right fielder Marshall Hubbard. Mangum walked to start the rally and took third on a single through the right side by Cox. Mangum then scored on Hubbard's grounder to second. Hubbard doubled in the first to stretch his hitting streak to a club-best nine games. Additionally, he has driven in a run in each of the last eight outings.
akker faced the minimum through three innings and did not allow a hit until Cal first baseman Allen Craig singled through the left side to lead off the fourth. Following Craig's single, the Bears loaded the bases with no outs, but Bakker buckled down to strike out the next two batters and get out of the jam.
Highlighted by a two-run single from Iannetta, Carolina scored three runs in the fifth to increase the lead to 4-0. After singles by Mangum and Cox, Iannetta blooped a single into left center to plate both runners. Iannetta later scored on an RBI single down the right field line by third baseman Justin Webb. Iannetta is now second on the team with 16 RBI.
The Bears threatened in the top of the eighth, putting two runners on against Brower, but Senatore came on with two on and one out and retired the final two batters to escape the inning with the shutout intact. Gross got the final two outs in the ninth.
Cal starter Mike Padgett (1-3) worked five innings and allowed four earned runs on nine hits and three walks. Blake Read came on in relief to start the sixth and Matt Swanson worked the eighth. Craig and center fielder David Weiner each had two hits for the Bears.
The series finale is set for 1 p.m. Sunday.
