University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
NC State
NC State Secures Series With 10-2 Win over No. 14 Carolina
May 21, 2004 | Baseball
May 21, 2004
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - Third baseman Eric Turner homered twice and drove in four runs to lead NC State (34-19, 11-11 ACC) to a series-clinching 10-2 win over No. 14 North Carolina (37-17, 13-10 ACC) Friday at Boshamer Stadium. Entering the three-game set, the Tar Heels, who will try to salvage a win in the series Saturday at 1p.m., had not lost a home series to the Wolfpack since 1994.
After homering Thursday night, Taylor went 2-for-4 with home runs in the seventh and eighth innings. He now has five homers on the year. First baseman David Hicks also homered for the Wolfpack, who had five players with two hits on the night.
Designated hitter Ross Cook went 3-for-4, and right fielder Marshall Hubbard was 2-for-4 with a triple and an RBI single to lead the Tar Heels at the plate. Hubbard has now hit safely in the last seven games. Shortstop Greg Mangum also had a pair of hits for UNC.
NC State starter Vern Sterry (9-2) allowed one run on six hits over seven innings to earn the win. He struck out six on the night. Carolina starter Garry Bakker (4-5) took the loss and worked 5.2 innings, allowing three runs on five hits and one walk.
akker cruised through the first five innings, allowing just two hits and no walks, but Hicks hit a three-run homer to right in the sixth to put the Wolfpack on the board. Hicks' team-best eighth shot of the year scored shortstop Jonathan Diaz, who started the rally with a single, and center fielder Bryan Kenneberg, who walked. Taylor pushed the Pack lead to 4-0 in the top of the seventh with a solo home run to left.
Carolina finally scratched in its half of the seventh to trim the lead to 4-1. Hubbard tripled to left center to lead off the inning, and first baseman Sammy Hewitt followed with a sacrifice fly to center to drive in the run. Hewitt now has 40 RBI on the year to rank third on the squad.
Highlighted by a three-run homer by Taylor, State added five runs in the eighth. After Kenneberg doubled to lead off the inning, Hicks was hit by a pitch and center fielder Ryan Johnson and second baseman Lee Mezistrano followed with RBI singles for the first two runs of the frame. Taylor then homered to left to plate Johnson and Mezistrano and give the Pack a 9-1 lead.
Hubbard had an RBI single in the eighth for the Tar Heels to cut the lead to 9-2, but NC State's Johnson drove in his second run in as many innings for the 10-2 final score.
With the loss, the Tar Heels have assured themselves of either the No. 4 or No. 5 seed at next week's ACC Tournament.
Freshman left-hander Andrew Miller will start game three of the series for the Tar Heels. Action is scheduled for 1 p.m. at Boshamer Stadium and will be televised by Fox Sports Net South.
