University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
The Citadel (NCAA Regional)
Carolina Stays Alive with 6-3 Win over The Citadel
June 5, 2004 | Baseball
June 5, 2004
COLUMBIA, S.C. - Designated hitter Matt Ellington went 2-for-4 with three runs batted in, and senior Whitley Benson worked 4.1 innings of scoreless relief to lead North Carolina (43-20) to a 6-3 win over The Citadel (39-28) in an NCAA Regional elimination game at Sarge Frye Field. The Tar Heels will now face host South Carolina in the Regional final at 1:30 p.m. Sunday. UNC will have to defeat USC twice to advance to next weekend's Super Regionals.
After driving in the first two runs of the night with a second inning single, Ellington plated the Carolina's final run with a fifth inning sacrifice fly. He also singled in the fourth and was one of five Tar Heels to record multi-hit games on the night. Left fielder Mike Daniel went 3-for-5 with two runs scored.
enson (5-1) picked up the win in relief after allowing just two hits and one walk over 4.1 innings. He walked just one. Senior closer Michael Gross worked the final 2.1 innings for his eighth save of the year.
Thanks to the two run-run single by Ellington, the Tar Heels jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead in the top of the second. First baseman Sammy Hewitt singled to center and took third on a double down the left field line by Daniel before Ellington singled up the middle to drive in both runners.
The Citadel cut the lead in half with a run in its half of the second. After second baseman Jon Aughey reached on an infield single, first baseman Mark Egleton doubled to center field to plate Aughey and trim the Carolina advantage to 2-1.
The Tar Heels tacked on a run in the third when Hewitt singled to right center to plate center fielder Chase Younts, who led off the inning with a walk and took second base on a Marshall Hubbard groundout.
After loading the bases in the third on two walks and a hit batter, Carolina starter Andrew Miller was lifted in favor of Benson. Aughey then singled through the left side drive in centerfielder Matt Covington, who led off the inning with a walk, and Egleton then hit a sacrifice fly to left to drive in third baseman Chris Ard, who was hit by a pitch, and tie the game at three.
All three runs were charged to Miller, who went just 2.1 innings and gave up three hits, three walks and hit a batter. He struck out one.
Carolina quickly reclaimed the lead in the fourth, chasing Bulldog starter Chip Cannon from the game in the process. After Ellington singled through the right side the start the rally, Younts came through with a two-out single, also through the right side, to break the tie. Following a walk to catcher Chris Iannetta, Hubbard doubled to right to drive in Younts and push the Tar Heel lead to 5-3. Cannon, who wraps up the year 5-4 with the loss, was lifted in favor of Griff Beckham following Hubbard's run-scoring hit.
Ellington's third RBI of the night gave Carolina 6-3 advantage. Daniel doubled to left and took third on a sac bunt by Justin Webb before Ellington flied out to left to drive home Daniel.
eckham was effective in 5.1 innings of relief, allowing one run on five hits, while striking out six.
The Tar Heels lost to the Gamecocks, 5-2, earlier Saturday, while The Citadel defeated Coastal Carolina, 10-1.
