University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
South Carolina (NCAA Regional)
Tar Heel Rally Falls Short in Columbia
June 6, 2004 | Baseball
June 6, 2004
COLUMBIA, S.C. - All-America catcher Chris Iannetta drew North Carolina within one run of host South Carolina in the bottom of the ninth inning, but the Tar Heels were unable to tie the score, as the Gamecocks (48-15) held on for a 7-6 win over Carolina (43-21) in the NCAA Columbia Regional title game at Sarge Frye Field. USC advances to next weekend's Super Regional, while UNC saw its season halted in Columbia for the third consecutive season.
Trailing 7-5 entering the ninth, the Tar Heels started the rally with a pinch-hit single to right by Jay Cox and single down the right field line by Chase Younts. Iannetta then singled through the left side to score Cox and cut the lead to 7-6. At that point, South Carolina closer Chad Blackwell buckled down to strikeout Marshall Hubbard and Sammy Hewitt to end the game.
South Carolina's Jason Fletcher (5-1) worked five innings of relief, scattering five hits and allowing just one run to pick up the win. He walked none and struck out six. Blackwell earned his 17th save.
Regional Most Valuable Player Steve Pearce went 3-for-4 with two runs batted in, and Kevin Melillo also added three hits to pace the Gamecocks at the plate. Younts, Matt Ellington and Justin Webb each had two hits for the Tar Heels. Iannetta, Hubbard and Mike Daniel were each named to the all-tournament team from Carolina.
The Gamecocks jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first, chasing Tar Heel starter Garry Bakker in the process. After shortstop Steven Tolleson roped Bakker's first offering into left center for a double, Peace singled to left to drive in the first run. Right fielder Brendan Winn drew a bases-loaded walk to plate the second run, Bakker was then lifted in favor of freshman Robert Woodard. Center fielder Michael Campbell, the first batter to face Woodard, reached via a fielder's choice and drove in catcher Landon Powell, who was walked by Bakker, for the final run of the frame.
Pitching twice in three days for the first time since the 2002 Columbia Regional, Bakker lasted just one-third of an inning and allowed three runs on three hits and two walks.
South Carolina added a run off Woodard in the second when Pearce doubled down the left field line to score left fielder Mark Stanley, who led off the inning with a single.
The Tar Heels scratched out two runs in the bottom of the inning to cut the lead in half. Hewitt drew a lead off walk and later scored from second on a two-out RBI single to left center by Webb. After an error by Melillo prolonged the inning, Webb came home on a single up the middle by shortstop Greg Mangum, which made the score 4-2.
Carolina tied the score in the third with the help of a wild pitch and an error by USC starter Billy Buckner. Iannetta reached via a walk and took second on a single through the right side by Hubbard. Following a sacrifice bunt by Hewitt, Iannetta came home on the wild pitch. The ball caromed back towards Buckner but he misplayed it, allowing Hubbard to score and tie the game at four.
Melillo atoned for his earlier error and put South Carolina up 6-4 with a two-run homer to right in the top of the fourth. The shot off UNC Andrew Miller, who replaced Woodard to start the inning, scored Pearce, who was hit by a pitch. Miller, who allowed three runs in two innings, falls to 6-3 with the loss. Melillo's homer was the only hit allowed by Miller.
The Tar Heels appeared to have something started in the fifth when Younts ripped a leadoff double to right center off Fletcher, but he came back to strike out Iannetta, Hubbard and Hewitt in order to get out of the inning.
oth teams loaded the bases in the sixth but could only manage one run each. Following back-to-back walks in the top half of the inning to Tolleson and third baseman Bryan Tripplett by Miller, Pearce singled to left field, where UNC's Daniel misplayed the ball, allowing Tolleson to score. Carolina closer Michael Gross them came on to get out of the inning without any further damage. He was outstanding in relief, allowing just three hits and no runs over four innings.
In the bottom of the frame, the Tar Heels loaded the bases with no outs, before second baseman Bryan Steed grounded into a 5-3 double play to drive in Ellington, who singled up the middle to lead off the inning. The score remained 7-5 until the Tar Heel half of the ninth.
The Tar Heels conclude their season at 43-21. UNC made its fifth trip to NCAA Regional play in the last six years and advanced to the Regional final for the third straight season.
