University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
High Point
No. 7 Tar Heels Edge High Point, 10-9
April 27, 2005 | Baseball
April 27, 2005
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - After rallying from a six-run hole Tuesday night, No. 7-ranked North Carolina (35-8-1) came back from a five-run deficit to post a 10-9 victory over visiting High Point (18-26) Wednesday at Boshamer Stadium. Freshman first baseman Chad Flack drove in the game-winner with a dribbler back to towards the mound with the bases loaded in the ninth.
Senior second baseman Greg Mangum was hit by a pitch from High Point reliever Matt Kniginyzky (3-5) to lead off the final inning and a pair of walks loaded the bases before Flack's game-winning RBI single. Carolina closer Matt Danford (4-1) allowed an unearned run in the top of the ninth to tie the game but picked up the win.
Offensively, freshman outfielder Seth Williams set the Carolina rookie home run record with his 12th of the season, a two-run shot in the sixth that also extended his career-best hitting streak to 11 games. Junior outfielder Mike Daniel went 2-for-2 with two RBI and two runs scored, and freshman shortstop Josh Horton was 2-for-4 with three runs scored.
Shortstop Justin Neyra and right fielder Mark Shorey each had three hits for High Point, which outhit the Tar Heels 14-11 on the night. Shorey also drive in a game-high three runs.
The Tar Heels trailed 7-2 after four and rallied from a deficit of at least five runs for the second night in a row. Carolina fell behind 6-0 at UNC Wilmington Tuesday before posting an 11-8 win. The Tar Heels committed four errors Wednesday, allowing four unearned runs.
High Point took a 1-0 lead in the first when Neyra reached on an error by Flack and came around to score on a double down the left field line by Shorey. The Panthers added a run in the second on a squeeze bunt by catcher Justin Pinyan.
Daniel cut the Panthers' lead in half with a solo home run in the second, his third of the season and first since a two-homer game versus Towson March 23.
After High Point added two in the third on a sac fly by Shorey and a fielding error by Horton, the Tar Heels trimmed the lead to 4-2 with a run in the bottom of the inning. Horton atoned for his error with a double to left and then scored on an RBI double to left center by left fielder Matt Ellington.
The Panthers tacked on three in the fourth to take a 7-2 lead. Third baseman Randy Schwartz drove in the first run with a double, Shorey followed with a run-scoring single for his third RBI and the Tar Heels' third error of the night allowed the third run of the inning to score.
Carolina had bases loaded in the fourth on three straight walks, but designated hitter Matt Spencer struck out and Mangum fouled out the third to end the inning. One inning later, the Tar Heels loaded the bases once again but this time managed two runs to cut the lead to 7-4. Third baseman Reid Fronk drew a bases loaded walk, and pinch hitter Jay Cox followed with an RBI single off the pitcher's mound.
In the sixth, the Tar Heels rallied for four runs with two out to take their first lead of the night at 8-7. With runners on the corners, Daniel singled to right center to plate the first run, and High Point reliever Matt Schlanger balked home the second. Williams the connected down the left field line for the two-run homer and a one-run Tar Heel lead.
With the game tied in the bottom of the eighth, Ellington reached second on a two-base error by High Point left fielder Bobby Brown. Williams walked, and pinch hitter Chase Younts was hit by a pitch to load the bases for Justin Webb, who was also hit by a pitch to give Carolina a 9-8 lead. But the Panthers rallied once again to tie the game against Danford in the top of the ninth on an RBI double by Neyra.
In a predetermined staff outing, Carolina starter Bryan Phillips went three innings and allowed four runs (two earned) on five hits and a walk. Reliever Andrew Carignan went two innings and allowed three runs (two earned) on four hits and a walk, and Robert Woodard allowed one run on four hits over three innings.
Panthers' starter Bubba O'Donnell lasted 4.1 innings and allowed four runs on six hits.
Carolina returns to action this weekend with a three-game series at NC State. Game times are 7 p.m. Friday, 2 p.m. Saturday and 1 p.m. Sunday. Sunday's game will be televised by C-SET.
