University of North Carolina Athletics
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Georgia Tech
No. 8 North Carolina Holds Off Georgia Tech for 9-7 Win
April 9, 2004 | Baseball
April 9, 2004
ATLANTA - Junior catcher Chris Iannetta homered and drove in four runs for the second consecutive game, and left fielder Jay Cox homered and drove in three runs as No. 8 North Carolina (25-6, 8-2 ACC) held off a late rally by Georgia Tech (18-14, 2-5 ACC) for a 9-7 victory Friday at Russ Chandler Stadium. The Tar Heels have now won five straight Atlantic Coast Conference contests and 21 of 24 overall. Carolina has also won four consecutive ACC road games for the first time since 1996.
With his fourth inning home run, Iannetta extended his team-best hitting streak to 20 games. The four RBI tie a career best for Iannetta, who was also hit by a pitch twice. Cox also tied a career high with his three RBI. Cox, shortstop Greg Mangum, center fielder Blair Waggett and first baseman Matt Ellington each had two hits for Carolina.
Tar Heel starter Daniel Bard (6-0) earned his third ACC win of the year despite allowing a career-high five runs on six hits and two walks. He also struck out five and at one point retired eight consecutive batters. Senior Michael Gross allowed two runs in the eighth but retired the side in order in the ninth as the Tar Heels held on for their ninth win in their last 10 games,
Tech starter Brian Burks (2-3) took the loss. He worked five innings and allowed nine runs (seven earned) on 10 hits and three walks. Burks fanned six batters. Third baseman Wes Hodges went 3-for-4 with two RBI to lead the Jackets at the plate.
Cox put the Tar Heels up 2-0 in the first with a homer to right off Burks. Cox's second home run of the year scored Mangum, who led off the game with a triple to center field. Burks settled down to strike out the next two batters and get out of the inning without any further damage.
The Yellow Jackets used a long ball of their own to trim the Tar Heel lead to 2-1, as designated hitter Micah Owings hit his 12th home run of the year over the right field wall in the bottom of the second.
Carolina tacked on a run in the fourth when Waggett tripled down the right field line to score left fielder Mike Daniel, who reached on an infield single. The triple was Waggett's second on the year since returning from a shoulder injury on March 24.
The 3-1 Carolina lead was short-lived, as Tech center fielder Brandon Boggs tied the game with a two-run home run to right center in the bottom of the inning. The shot scored Hodges, who led off the inning with an infield single to short.
With the game tied a three in the fifth, Iannetta put the Tar Heels ahead 6-3 with a three-run homer to deep left center. Iannetta's eighth on the year and second in the last two games, the round-tripper scored Mangum, who led off the frame with a double, and Cox, who walked.
The Tar Heels struck again in the sixth, scoring three runs for a 9-3 lead. After Waggett doubled down the left field line and Steed walked, a fielding error by Tech shortstop Tyler Greene loaded the bases for Cox, who singled through the left side to score Waggett. With the bases still loaded, Iannetta was hit by a pitch from Jackets' reliever Philip Perry to drive in his fourth run of the night. Mangum came home for the final run of the frame as right fielder Marshall Hubbard grounded into a double play.
Down by six, the Jackets rallied for four runs in the eighth to cut the lead to 9-7. Hodges got the scoring started with a two-run double down the right field line to score second baseman Eric Patterson and first baseman Whit Robbins. Right fielder Clifton Remole later plated a run on an infield single, and catcher Mike Nickeas drove in the last run of the inning with a sacrifice fly to center.
The series continues at 7 p.m. Saturday and 1 p.m. Sunday. Saturday's game will be televised by Fox Sports Net South and broadcast on AM-1360 WCHL. An audio broadcast of Sunday's game can be heard at TarHeelBlue.com. Junior Garry Bakker will start Saturday for the Tar Heels, while freshman Andrew Miller is scheduled to go Sunday.
