University of North Carolina Athletics
UNC Baseball Knocks Off No. 19 Virginia in 11 Innings
March 19, 2004 | Baseball
March 19, 2004
The University of North Carolina baseball team took its first ACC contest of 2004 Friday night, defeating No. 19 Virginia, 5-3 in 11 innings, in game one of a three-game ACC series at Davenport Field at the UVa Baseball Stadium. UNC led 3-0 before the Cavaliers rallied to tie the game at 3-3, which eventually sent the contest into extra innings. UNC scored two runs in the top of the 11th inning to seal their first conference and road win of the season.
North Carolina took a 2-0 lead in the top of the third inning when Justin Webb (single) and Jay Cox (double) reached second and third base with no outs to start off the side. In UNC's next at-bat, Craig Corrado connected on a RBI-single to center field to drive in Webb to make it a 1-0 ball game. Four batters later with the bases loaded after two strikeouts and a walk, Marshall Hubbard walked to score Cox from third base to give the Tar Heels a 2-0 lead. North Carolina tacked on another run in the top of the fourth inning to make it a 3-0 contest when Mell Adams doubled to start off the side and eventually scored a run from third base on a double play ground-out.
Trailing 3-0 in the bottom of the fifth inning, Virginia scored three runs and tied the game at 3-3. Scott Headd got things started for UVa when he was hit by a pitch to lead off the side and scored a run three batters later on a double play ground-out.
In the Cavaliers' next at-bat, Mark Reynolds hit a RBI-single to third base to drive in Kyle Werman from third to make it a 3-2 game. Reynolds then advance all the way to third base from first after a failed pick-off attempt and an error, and then scored a run on the ensuing play on another UNC error to tie the game at 3-3. The contest would eventually go into extra innings.
In the top of the 11th inning tied 3-3, North Carolina took a 5-3 lead when Ross Cook hit a two-run, RBI-single up the middle to score Cox and Bryan Steed. Cook's hit and Cox's run proved to be the game-winners.
UVa's Casey Lambert (2-1) was handed his first collegiate loss after going 4.0 innings. He allowed two runs on six hits and struck out two batters. UNC's Michael Gross (1-0) picked up the win after going 1.2 innings on the mound and allowing no hits while striking out one batter.
The Cavaliers' Andrew Dobies and the Tar Heels' Daniel Bard each finished the game with a no-decision despite superb performances by each player. Dobies went 7.0 innings and allowed three runs (two earned) on seven hits with a game-high 10 strikeouts. Bard went 6.2 innings and allowed three runs (two earned) on four hits and struck out a team-high eight batters.
The victory improves North Carolina's record to 15-4 overall, 1-0 in the conference. With the loss, Virginia's record falls to 17-4 overall, 3-1 in the ACC.
The Tar Heels and Cavaliers will return to action on Saturday, March 20, when Virginia and North Carolina play the second game of the three-game series. First pitch is scheduled for 2:00 PM at Davenport Field at the UVa Baseball Stadium.
