University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Georgia Tech
No. 2 Tar Heels Drop Series Finale To No. 4 Jackets, 3-2
March 26, 2006 | Baseball
March 26, 2006
ATLANTA - No. 2 North Carolina limited No. 4 Georgia Tech to just six hits but managed just two runs on seven hits of its own in a 3-2 loss in Sunday's Atlantic Coast Conference series finale at Russ Chandler Stadium. The Tar Heels (20-5, 5-4 ACC) got solo home runs from catcher Benji Johnson and designated hitter Tim Federowicz but fell behind in the sixth inning and managed just one hit off the Yellow Jackets' bullpen.
Lee Hyde (2-0) earned the win for Tech (20-4, 5-4 ACC) with 1.2 hitless innings, while Matt Wieters picked up his second save with 1.2 scoreless innings of work.
Carolina starter Robert Woodard (2-1) was the tough-luck loser, dropping a decision for the first time since May 11, 2004, to end a run of 13 consecutive victories. He allowed three runs on six hits over six innings and struck out four. Righty Jonathan Hovis retired all six batters he faced - three via strikeout - in two shutout innings of relief.
Shortstop Josh Horton went 3-for-4 to lead the Tar Heels, who have not won a series in Atlanta since 1998 and dropped their first three-game set of the season.
Third baseman Wes Hodges and shortstop Michael Fisher each had two hits for the Yellow Jackets.
Carolina scored first for the third straight game on the Johnson solo home run on the first pitch of the third inning. Johnson sent the David Duncan offering over the left field fence for his fourth homer of the season and a 1-0 UNC lead.
Federowicz followed in the fourth with a first-pitch homer off Duncan to give the Tar Heels a two-run advantage. Horton and center fielder Seth Williams followed with back-to-back singles but right fielder Matt Spencer popped up a bunt to Duncan and Johnson hit into an inning-ending 5-4-3 double play to keep Carolina from adding to its lead.
Tech cut the lead in half in the fifth when Fisher led off with a single, moved to second on a Danny Payne walk, took third on a wild pitch and scored on a sacrifice fly to left from Hodges.
A second sacrifice fly tied the score for the Jackets the sixth and they went ahead on an RBI groundout by pinch hitter Wally Crancer. Following a single by first baseman Whit Robbins, left fielder Steven Blackwood was credited with a double when Williams lost a fly ball in the sun to put runners on second and third with no outs. Second baseman Mike Trapani then tied the game with a sac fly to left before Crancer drove in the go-ahead run with a grounder back to the mound.
Carolina is back in action at Boshamer Stadium Tuesday with its first home night game of the season. The Tar Heels host in-state rival Charlotte at 6 p.m.
