University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Purdue
Bard Pitches No. 2 Carolina Past Purdue, 5-2
March 4, 2006 | Baseball
March 4, 2006
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - Junior right-hander Daniel Bard struck out a career-high 13 batters in a complete game, five-hitter, as No. 2 North Carolina bounced back from its first loss of the season with a 5-2 win over Purdue Saturday at Boshamer Stadium. Outfielders Jay Cox and Seth Williams each homered to help Tar Heels (9-1) even the series with the Boilermakers (2-2) and one game apiece.
Bard (2-0) gave up two singles and hit a batter in the second but worked out of the bases loaded jam and then did not allow another hit until the seventh inning. The Charlotte native retired 13 of the next 14 batters he faced until Purdue right fielder Neal Gorka singled and second baseman Eric Osborn followed with a two-run home run for the Boilermakers' only runs of the game.
After the homer, Bard settled back down to set down seven of the final nine batters he faced. His 13 strikeouts are the most by a Tar Heel since Garry Bakker also fanned 13 in a five-hit shutout at Virginia March 30, 2002. On the season, Bard now has a team-best 27 strikeouts against just two walks.
Cox and Williams provided all the scoring Bard would need with the two home runs. Cox homered for the second straight day to give the Tar Heels a 1-0 lead in the third. His shot to right off Purdue starter Dan Sattler (0-1) matched a career high and grabbed a share of the team homer lead.
The Tar Heels used the long ball again the fourth to take a 4-0 lead on Williams' three-run homer to left off Sattler. His first home run of the year scored right fielder Matt Spencer, who led off the inning with a single and catcher Benji Johnson, who walked for the second time on the day.
After Osborn's home run cut the lead in half, Carolina added an insurance run in the seventh when shortstop Josh Horton singled and scored on an RBI double by Spencer to right. Osborn and Gorka collided on the play, allowing the ball to drop and Horton to score. First baseman Chad Flack, who also singled in the inning, was thrown out at home trying to score on the play.
Flack, who was 3-for-4 on the day, matched his career-best hitting streak of 11 games, dating back to last season. Horton, who was 2-for-4, and Spencer, who went 2-for-3 with one RBI, each extended their career-long hitting streaks to nine games. Starting for just the second game of the season, Williams was 2-for-3 with the three-run homer, his first of the season and 14th of his career.
Gorka and Osborn each had two hits to lead Purdue at the plate. Sattler went six innings and allowed four runs on seven hits and three walks.
The rubber match of the series is set for 1:30 p.m. Sunday with lefty Andrew Miller taking the mound for Carolina.
