University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Clemson (ACC Tournament)
Tar Heels Rally to Oust Clemson, 6-5
May 28, 2004 | Baseball
May 28, 2004
SALEM, Va. - Senior Sammy Hewitt ripped a walk-off single to center in the ninth to lift No. 5-seed North Carolina (41-18) to a 6-5 win over No. 4-seed Clemson and its third consecutive victory in an elimination game Friday at the 2004 Atlantic Coast Conference Baseball Championship at Salem Memorial Baseball Stadium. The Tar Heels will now face No. 3-seed Florida State at 3:30 p.m. Saturday on Fox Sports Net South for the right to face top-seeded Georgia Tech in the title game at 8 p.m.
Carolina has now won three games in the ACC Tournament for the first time since the 1990 squad went 5-0 en route to the Tar Heels' last conference title. UNC will have to defeat the Seminoles and then down Georgia Tech Saturday night and Sunday afternoon to win the ACC crown.
Trailing 5-4 entering the ninth, the Tar Heels loaded the bases when Greg Mangum was hit by a pitch, Chase Younts reached on a fielder's choice and Chris Iannetta hit a bloop single down the right field line. Junior right fielder Marshall Hubbard then drew a walk to tie the score and five and set the stage for Hewitt, who singled off Clemson reliever Tony Sipp (2-2) for the game winner.
Carolina reliever Michael Gross (4-3) worked two hitless innings to claim the win. He was the loser in the Tar Heels ninth inning loss to Clemson in Wednesday's opening round.
Carolina pounded out 12 hits, led by Iannetta, Hubbard, Hewitt and third baseman Justin Webb, who each had two base hits on the night.
Catcher Lou Santangelo put Clemson up 2-0 in the first with a two-run shot to deep left center. His 16th home run of the season scored second baseman Travis Storrer, who doubled to right for the first hit of the night. Clemson claimed a three-run run cushion in the third when starting pitcher Kris Harvey reached on a fielder's choice and drove in third baseman Brad McCann, who also reached via a fielder's choice.
Highlighted by consecutive doubles from Hubbard, Hewitt and Mike Daniel, the Tar Heels tied the game at three in the fourth. Hubbard led off the inning with a two-bagger to right center and then scored on Hewitt's hit to nearly the same spot. Daniel then laced a double down the right field line to drive in Hewitt and cut the lead to 3-2. With the bases loaded, shortstop Greg Mangum then grounded out to second to drive in Daniel and tie the game.
Iannetta broke the tie with his third home run of the tournament and 15th of the season in the fifth. Iannetta's second solo shot to left of the day chased Harvey from the mound.
McCann put the Tigers back in front with a two-run blast to left off UNC reliever Jonathan Hovis in the seventh. McCann's 15th home run of the season scored Storrer, who reached on a fielder's choice, and put Clemson ahead 5-4.
Tar Heel starter Robert Woodard went four innings and allowed three runs on five hits. He walked just one and struck out five before Hovis came on to start the fifth. Hovis went 2.2 innings and allowed two runs on four hits and one walk.
Harvey worked four-plus innings and gave up four runs on eight hits and a walk. Reliever Josh Cribb worked 3.2 scoreless innings and struck out six for the Tigers.
Friday marked the first time the Tar Heels, who defeated Duke 20-2 earlier Friday, played two games in one day this season.
