University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Duke
Bard Blanks Blue Devils, 7-0
April 24, 2005 | Baseball
April 24, 2005
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - Sophomore right-hander Daniel Bard tossed a complete game, two-hit shutout as No. 10-ranked North Carolina (33-8-1, 14-4-1 ACC) wrapped up a three-game sweep of rival Duke (12-30, 3-17 ACC) with a 7-0 victory Sunday at Boshamer Stadium. With the win, the Carolina improves to 12-1 against Duke over the last four seasons and captured a point towards the Carlyle Cup, the all-sports competition between the Tar Heels and Blue Devils. UNC holds a 16-9 lead and has clinched the Cup for 2004-05.
Bard (7-2) was sharp from the start, as he retired the first seven batters he faced and set down the side in order three times. He allowed just three walks on top of the two hits and struck out five. The complete game was the second of his career and first since he also tossed a two-hit shutout of California on March 12, 2004. The Tar Heels now have seven shutouts as a team this season, which ties last season's total.
Carolina's offense was balanced as no player had more than one hit on the day. Freshman outfielder Seth Williams drove in the first two Tar Heels runs with a two-run double in the second, and classmate Benji Johnson capped the scoring with a pinch-hit two-run homer in the seventh, his second of the season. Williams' hit extended his career-best hitting streak to nine games.
The Tar Heels have now swept four conference series in a single season for the first time since 2002 and just the second time since the ACC went to three-game weekend sets in 1990. Following losses by Georgia Tech and Miami Sunday, Carolina is now one game ahead in the loss column with just four ACC losses this season. Both the Yellow Jackets and Hurricanes have dropped five conference games.
After Bard retired the first six Blue Devils he faced, Carolina put three runs on the board in the bottom of the second. Following back-to-back singles by third baseman Chad Flack and right fielder Jay Cox, Williams cleared the bases with a double down the left field line. First baseman Matt Spencer followed with a double off the wall in right to drive in Williams for the 3-0 Tar Heel lead.
Duke starter Danny Otero managed to hold Carolina at bay until it added four insurance runs in the seventh to push the lead to 7-0. Left fielder Mike Daniel started the rally with a single to left center, and, following a walk to Spencer, shortstop Josh Horton singled through the left side to score Daniel, who was running on the play. Senior second baseman Greg Mangum drove in the second run when he dropped a sacrifice bunt down the first base line, and Johnson followed with the two-run homer to left for a 7-0 lead.
Otero (4-10) took the loss after allowing six runs on seven hits and two walks. He struck out five.
For the series, the Tar Heels allowed just three runs over 27 innings to lower their staff earned run average to 2.55.
Carolina returns to action Tuesday at UNC Wilmington at 7 p.m. and Wednesday at home against High Point at 6 p.m. The Tar Heels return to league action at NC State next weekend.
