University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Birmingham Southern
Mangum's Sac Fly Keeps No. 4 Tar Heels Unbeaten
February 26, 2005 | Baseball
Feb. 26, 2005
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - Senior second baseman Greg Mangum hit a bases-loaded sacrifice fly in the bottom of the ninth, and junior Jonathan Hovis retired 12 consecutive batters in relief to lift No. 4-ranked North Carolina to a 3-2 victory over visiting Birmingham Southern (2-3) Saturday at Boshamer Stadium. With the win, the Tar Heels pushed their record to 7-0 for the first time since the 2000 season.
With the game tied at two entering the bottom of the ninth, Carolina freshman third baseman Reid Fronk led off the inning with a single through the left side. Junior Blair Waggett came on the pinch run for Fronk, and sophomore Bryan Steed followed with a pinch-hit single up the middle to put two on. Senior Justin Webb reached on a bunt and all runners were safe, as Waggett beat the throw at third to load the bases. Mangum then lofted a fly ball to left, and Waggett slid safely at home to secure the Tar Heels seventh win of the season.
Having rallied from 1-0 and 2-1 deficits, the Tar Heels were kept in the game by Hovis, who entered in the fifth with two outs. Catcher Benji Johnson threw out BSC center fielder Scott Billak to end that inning, and Hovis (2-0) did the rest, as he retired the next 12 batters he faced to earn his second win of the season. Hovis struck out three and lowered his season earned run average to 1.86.
Led by Fronk and freshman shortstop Josh Horton, the Tar Heels reached double-digits in hits for the second game in a row with 10. Fronk was 2-for-4 with a run scored, while Horton was 2-for-2 with a walk and a run batted in.
After the Panthers took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first on a solo homer by first baseman Adam Tucker, Carolina responded with a run in the bottom the inning to tie the score. Junior right fielder Jay Cox and senior center fielder Chase Younts wasted little time extending their career-best hitting streaks, as Younts started the rally with a double to left and Cox followed with an infield single to second to put runners on the corners. Sophomore designated hitter Matt Ellington then doubled down the left field line to drive in Younts for his team-high eighth RBI of the season. Dating back to last season, Younts has hit safely in nine straight, while Cox has hit in the last eight games.
BSC reclaimed the lead with an unearned run in the third. After singles by second baseman Ronny Woods and third baseman Pat Mizerany put runners on first and second, Tucker slapped an infield single to the right side but the ball got by Mangum, allowing Woods to score the go-ahead run on the error.
Birmingham Southern's lead was short lived, however, as the rookie left side of the Carolina infield combined to tie the score once again in the fourth. Fronk singled through the left side and took second on a wild pitch, before Horton singled through the right side to drive in Fronk. The Panther defense held the Tar Heels to just one run in the frame, as Mangum followed with a double to left center, but Horton was thrown out at the plate to end the inning.
Neither starter would figure in the decision, as Carolina junior Adam Kalkhof allowed two runs (one earned) on six hits over 4.2 innings. He stuck out one and walked none in his second start of the season. BSC's David Horne was also effective, scattering eight hits and two walks over 6.1 innings. He struck out five and allowed two runs.
Panther reliever Josh Brittnell (0-2) took the loss after allowing one run on two hits in two innings of work. Tucker was 2-for-4 with the homer to lead BSC at the plate.
In addition to its strong pitching effort, Carolina also got an impressive defensive effort from its outfield, as Cox made a pair of diving catches in right, and Younts made one in center. The Tar Heels have now allowed just five earned runs in 63 innings this season for team ERA of 0.71.
The series wraps up at 1:30 p.m. Sunday with sophomore Andrew Miller set to start for the Tar Heels.
