University of North Carolina Athletics
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Georgia Tech
Georgia Tech Evens Series with No. 8 Tar Heels, 8-4
April 10, 2004 | Baseball
April 10, 2004
ATLANTA - North Carolina junior righty Garry Bakker carried a no-hitter into the fifth, but Georgia Tech (19-14, 3-5 ACC) put up six runs in the sixth and held on to defeat the No. 8 Tar Heels, 8-4, Saturday at Russ Chandler Stadium. The loss snaps a five-game Atlantic Coast Conference win streak for Carolina (25-7, 8-3 ACC).
akker (2-3) kept Georgia Tech off the board through four, but the Jackets combined for eight runs in the fifth and sixth innings to pull ahead 8-4. Following two runs in the fifth, Tech sent 11 batters to the plate and scored six in the sixth. The Jackets managed just two hits in the inning, but two Tar Heel errors contributed to the Tech rally.
With the bases, loaded right fielder Clifton Remole plated the first run on an RBI groundout. After Carolina reliever Whitley Benson balked home a run, shortstop Tyler Greene gave the Jackets a 5-4 lead with a sacrifice fly to center. First baseman Whit Robbins then drove in a run with a single down the left field line, and Tech added runs on back-to-back errors by third baseman Sammy Hewitt and shortstop Greg Mangum for the 8-4 final.
The Jackets' Micah Owings (4-2) worked the final 3.2 innings to pick up the win. He allowed just one hit and two walks while striking out five. After facing just one over the minimum through four, Bakker (2-3) went 5.1 innings and allowed six runs on four hits and four walks. He struck out two.
The Tar Heel offense was led by the top four batters in the lineup : Greg Mangum, Jay Cox, Chris Iannetta and Marshall Hubbard, who each two hits on the night. Cox doubled twice and scored two runs, and Iannetta extended his career-best hitting streak to 21 games.
Just as they did Friday, the Tar Heels got on the board in the top of the first. Following a Cox double, Iannetta singled through the right side and Hubbard then singled to right to score Cox from third and give Carolina a 1-0 lead.
In the third, Cox pushed the Tar Heel lead to 2-0 with his second double of the night and third extra-base hit of the series. The liner to right center scored Mangum, who led off the inning with a ground rule doubled down the left field line. Carolina added a second run in the inning when Cox swiped home on the front end of a double steal.
After being held hitless by Bakker through the first four innings, Tech put together three straight singles to lead off the fifth and cut the lead to 3-2. Left fielder Steven Blackwood singled up the middle to score right fielder Clifton Remole for the first run, and catcher Mike Nickeas came home when first baseman Whit Robbins grounded into a double play.
The Tar Heels pulled ahead 4-2 in the sixth with their fourth and fifth doubles of the night. Following a double to right by Hubbard, first baseman Matt Ellington ripped a double to center to pick up the RBI. After Ellington's hit, Owings replaced Tech starter Andrew Kown and retired the side without further damage.
The series wraps up Sunday at 1 p.m. Freshman Andrew Miller will start for the Tar Heels, while Lee Hyde is scheduled to take the mound for the Yellow Jackets.
