University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Birmingham Southern
Bard Pitches No. 4 UNC Past Panthers, 6-3
February 25, 2005 | Baseball
Feb. 25, 2005
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - Sophomore right-hander Daniel Bard allowed just one hit over seven innings, and four Tar Heels had multi-hit games to lead No.4-ranked North Carolina (6-0) to a 6-3 come-from-behind win over Birmingham Southern (2-2) Friday at Boshamer Stadium. With Friday's effort, the Carolina pitching staff has allowed just four earned runs in 54 innings this season.
After giving up two runs (one earned) in the third inning, Bard (2-0) quickly settled down and retired the final 13 batters he faced. He gave up one hit and three walks over the first three innings, but retired the side order in the fourth through seventh innings en route to his 10th career victory. Bard had four strikeouts on the day. Sophomore right-hander Robert Woodard worked the final two innings to close out the victory.
Every Carolina starter hit safely, led by right fielder Jay Cox, who was 3-for-5, drove in a run and extended his career-best hitting streak to seven games. Freshman first baseman Chad Flack, junior outfielder Mike Daniel and senior second baseman Greg Mangum each had two hits on the day, and six different Tar Heels drove in runs. Center fielder Chase Younts' fourth-inning double pushed his career-long hitting streak to eight games.
After the Panthers scored twice in the third, the Tar Heels were forced to play from behind for just the second time this season. BSC Catcher Blake Burton led off the inning with a walk, was bunted over to second and took third on a passed ball. He later scored on a single to center by Panther center fielder Scott Billak. Billak took third on a two-base throwing error by Bard and then scored on a sacrifice bunt towards first base by third baseman Pat Mizerany.
After loading the bases and failing to score in the fourth, the Tar Heels plated four in the fifth take a 4-2 lead. The rally started with a double to left center by catcher Justin Webb, who scored on a single down the right field line by Cox, which cut the Panther lead to 2-1. Following a walk to designated hitter Matt Ellington, Daniel singled to right center to drive in Cox and move Ellington over to third.
With score now knotted at two and runners on the corners, Flack hit a chopper down the right field line to score Ellington and move Daniel to third. Flack wound up on second for his first career double. Younts was then intentionally walked to load the bases, and third baseman Craig Corrado followed with a sacrifice fly to deep center to plate Daniel and give the Tar Heels the two-run cushion.
Ellington lifted the Carolina lead to 5-2 with a double to left in the sixth. BSC left fielder Tripp Salem made a diving attempt at the ball but could not glove it, and Cox came around to score. With three hits Friday, Cox is now batting .500 (11-22) and is tied for the team lead with seven RBI this season.
Freshman shortstop Josh Horton drove in the final Carolina run of the day with a single through the right side in the seventh.
Panthers' designated hitter Mac Godwin hit a solo home run off Woodard in the ninth for the 6-3 final margin. The homer was the first allowed by the Tar Heels this season.
BSC starter Brandon Hynick (0-1) took the loss, as he gave up four runs on nine hits and two walks.
The series continues at 1 p.m. Saturday and 1:30 p.m. Sunday. Junior Adam Kalkhof (1-0) will start for the Tar Heels in game two, and sophomore Andrew Miller (2-0) is the scheduled starter for game three.
