Baseball Falls 5-4 To UNC In Series Finale
April 28, 2002
Chapel Hill, N.C. (www.hurricanesports.com) – – North Carolina (32-15) scored the go-ahead run in the seventh inning to pull out a series clinching 5-4 win over Miami (22-21) in front of 2,065 fans Sunday afternoon at Cary C. Boshamer Stadium.
All three games of the series were decided by one run as UNC won Friday 5-4, while Miami picked up a 4-3 win on Saturday.
Miami reliever Vince Vazquez (0-2), who was one of team-record tying eight pitchers used, walked three of four batters faced in the seventh to load the bases. J.D. Cockroft then came in and walked pinch-hitter Ryan Blake, on full-count, to score Farrell from third. Cockroft was then replaced with Shawn Valdes-Fauli, who induced Iannetta into an inning ending double play.
UNC reliever Michael Gross (6-3) earned the win pitching the final 2.1 innings. Gross also earned the win in Friday night’s 5-4 loss to the Tar Heels.
UM starter Vince Bongiovanni pitched 3.0 innings before being replaced with Troy Roberson to start the fourth. Bongiovanni allowed four runs (three earned) on five hits, two walks, one strikeout and one hit batter.
Roberson, making his first appearance since UCLA on March 23 (sore right elbow), pitched 2.1 scoreless innings with one hit, two walks and one hit batter.
UNC starter Garry Bakker pitched 6.2 innings allowing five hits, four runs (three earned), four walks, four strikeouts and one balk.
North Carolina opened the scoring, 2-0, in the second inning scoring twice of two hits and one error. Jeremy Cleveland scored the first run on Chris Iannetta’s single to centerfield. Cleveland had doubled and moved to third on Greg Mangum’s ground out. Iannetta scored the second run, from third, on UM catcher Greg Dini’s errant throw over third base to left field. Iannetta had moved to second when Mell Adams was hit by a Bongiovanni pitch and then to third on a walk to Adam Greenberg.
The Tar Heels added to their lead, 4-0, in the third scoring two more runs on two hits. Sean Farrell led off with a walk and moved to third on a double by Chris Maples. Farrell would then score on a ground out by Ron Braun, with Maples going to third. Cleveland followed with a RBI single past the shortstop to score Maples.
Miami came back in the fourth, 2-0, scoring two runs on three hits. Danny Figueroa led off with a single to right center and moved to second on a Bakker balk. Brad Safchik walked to put runners on first and second. Javy Rodriguez then loaded the bases with a bunt single towards third base. Figueroa would score the first run as Kevin Howard hit into a double play, with Safchik moving to third. Matt Dryer followed with a RBI single to right field to score Safchik.
The Hurricanes tied the game, 4-4, in the sixth one hit and one error. Danny Figueroa led off with a walk. Safchik then hit into a fielder’s choice at first, but Cleveland opted to throw to second and errantly threw into left field with both runners moving to second and third. The first run, Figueroa, came in on Rodriguez’ ground out to the shortstop. Howard knocked in the tying run with a double off the wall in right field.
Miami returns to action on Thursday, May 2 against the Florida International Golden Panthers at Mark Light Stadium. The Hurricanes will then face Bethune-Cookman for a three-game series at Mark Light Stadium, May 3-5.
All four games can be heard over the Internet at www.hurricanesports.com and on the student voice of the Hurricanes, WVUM 90.5 FM. The Hurricanes English and Spanish flagships Sports Radio 560 WQAM and WACC 830 AM Radio Paz will carry the FIU game, as well as the Saturday Bethune-Cookman game. Fox Sports Net Florida will be televising the Sunday Bethune-Cookman game.
For more information on University of Miami athletics log on to its newly designed website at www.hurricanesports.com, the official site for all Hurricane news, tickets and apparel. For Hurricane ticket information call 1-800-GO CANES.
