University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Elon
Elon Hands No. 6 Carolina First Home Loss, 10-3
April 6, 2005 | Baseball
April 6, 2005
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - Three North Carolina errors contributed to Elon's six-run fifth inning and the Phoenix (18-14) pounded out 12 hits en route to a 10-3 win over the sixth-ranked Tar Heels (24-6, 8-2 ACC) Wednesday at Boshamer Stadium. The loss snapped a school-record 22-0 home start and ended Carolina's current nine-game winning streak.
The 10 runs scored by Elon marked the most allowed by the Tar Heels' pitching staff this season. Only five of the runs were earned, as Carolina committed at least three errors for the seventh time on the year. Carolina starter Andy Gale (1-1) lasted 4.1 innings, allowing five runs (three earned) on five hits and three walks. He struck out three.
Elon righty Lance Cole (3-1) picked up the win after allowing two runs on six hits over five innings. Four Phoenix starters had two hits on the night with catcher Drew Davis driving in a team-best three runs with two RBI singles and a sac fly.
Freshman outfielder Seth Williams drove in two runs for the Tar Heels, and classmate Chad Flack, who was making first start of the season at third base, went 3-for-5 and extended his hitting streak to five games. The three hits equaled his career best. Senior catcher Justin Webb and sophomore right fielder Jay Cox also added two hits.
Carolina fell behind early for the third time in the last four games, as Elon took a 1-0 lead in the first on a sacrifice fly by designated hitter Chris Vasami and added a run in the fourth on an RBI groundout by former Tar Heel Adam Weaver.
Williams finally put the Tar Heels on the board in the fourth with an RBI single. Flack, who singled and took second on a wild pitch, scored from second on the play after singling down the right field line and moving over to second on a wild pitch. After Matt Spencer was hit by a pitch, Williams ripped a single up the middle to drive in his 17th run of the season.
The Phoenix responded with six runs in the fifth on five hits and three Tar Heel errors, making all but one of the runs unearned. First baseman Evan Erickson and second baseman Garry Morris both tallied run-scoring doubles in the inning. Two runs also scored on a two-base throwing error Spencer at first.
Carolina got one run back in the bottom of the inning on an RBI single by designated hitter Matt Ellington, but Elon pushed the lead back to seven runs in the sixth on a sac fly by Davis. A pair of Phoenix errors and an RBI groundout by Williams in the sixth helped Carolina cut the lead to 9-3.
The Tar Heels are back in action this weekend with a three-game series at Maryland. Games are set for 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 1 p.m. Sunday at Shipley Field in College Park.
