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No. 14 Carolina Falls to NC State, 7-1, in Series Opener
May 20, 2004 | Baseball
May 20, 2004
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CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - Despite a leadoff home run by shortstop Greg Mangum in the bottom of the first, No. 14 North Carolina (37-16, 13-9 ACC) could manage only four more hits off NC State righty Michael Rogers, and the Wolfpack (33-19, 10-11 ACC) took game one of a three-game Atlantic Coast Conference series, 7-1, Thursday at Boshamer Stadium. The loss was the Tar Heels' first at home to NC State since 2000.
Rogers (9-3) went the distance for the Wolfpack, allowing just one run on five hits and no walks. He struck out seven. Carolina freshman Daniel Bard (8-3) took the loss, allowing four runs on nine hits and four walks in four innings. Sophomore Jonathan Hovis allowed one run on three hits in three innings of relief for the Tar Heels.
NC State right fielder Lee Mezistrano went 3-for-5, and second baseman Matt Camp, first baseman David Hicks and catcher Caleb Mangum each had two hits to lead the Wolfpack offense, which totaled 13 base hits on the night.
In a match up of two of the ACC's top pitchers, offense was the story early as NC State jumped out to an 1-0 lead in the first thanks to doubles from Camp and Hicks. Camp lead off the game with a double to left, and Hicks followed two batters later for a double to right and a one-run Wolfpack lead.
The NC State advantage was short lived, as Greg Mangum tied the game on Rogers' first pitch in the bottom of the inning with his first home run of the season. The shot to right was the Tar Heels' first leadoff homer since Adam Greenberg's first inning round tripper against Virginia on May 22, 2002.
Third baseman Eric Taylor quickly put the Pack up 2-1 in the second with a solo homer to left, his third of the year. NC State added two more runs in the fourth with a two-out rally. After a walk to Taylor, Caleb Mangum singled to right center, and shortstop Jonathan Diaz then doubled to right to drive in Taylor for the first run. Camp was then intentionally walked to load the bases, and center fielder Ryan Kinneberg also drew a walk to push the lead to 4-1.
State added one run in the seventh as left fielder Jason St. Julien scored when Caleb Mangum reached on a fielder's choice. St. Julien singled through the left side to start the rally. The Wolfpack scored its final two runs in the ninth when St. Julien, who walked, scored on a wild pitch, and Mezistrano, who singled, came home on a throwing error by UNC third baseman Brack Massey.
The series continues at 7 p.m. Friday and 1 p.m. Saturday. Garry Bakker is scheduled to start game two for the Tar Heels, and Andrew Miller will start game three.
