May 13, 2001
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – Adam Greenberg went 3-for-4 with a triple and two RBI, and North Carolina withstood a late Georgia Tech rally as the Tar Heels (31-24, 9-15 ACC) held on for an 11-10 win over the 10th-ranked Yellow Jackets (39-16, 13-11 ACC) on Sunday afternoon at Boshamer Stadium in the final game of the regular season. The victory gave the Tar Heels a 2-1 win in the three-game Atlantic Coast Conference series.
North Carolina’s Scott Autrey (3-3), who allowed three runs in 5.2 innings, picked up the victory.
Tech starter Kyle Bakker (4-1) suffered his first loss of the season after allowing four runs on seven hits in four innings of work.
The Tar Heels took a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the third inning. Adam Greenberg delivered a two-run triple to right-center field and then came in to score on Sean Farrell’s successful suicide squeeze bunt. North Carolina stretched the lead to 4-0 in the fourth inning when Ron Braun doubled and scored on Chad Prosser’s RBI single.
Tech scored three times in the top of the sixth to cut the lead to 4-3. Victor Menocal led off the inning with a double and scored on Brad Stockton’s RBI single. A double from Matt Murton put runners on second and third base with one out, before Matthew Boggs singled and Richard Lewis grounded out to drive in the final two runs of the inning.
UNC answered in the bottom of the sixth to make the score 5-3. Jason Howell led off the inning with a walk, took second on Ron Braun’s single, advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt and scored on Ryan Blake’s RBI groundout.
The Tar Heels added five more runs in the bottom of the seventh to push the lead to 10-3. Ralph Roberts delivered a RBI single before Howell belted a two-run double off the center field wall. A RBI groundout from Prosser and a RBI double from Blake plated the final runs of the inning.
Tech rallied in the top of the eighth with five runs to make the score 10-8. The inning was highlighted by RBI singles from Stockton and Jason Basil, and a bases loaded walk to Boggs.
Carolina added an insurance run in the bottom of the eighth when Greenberg singled and scored on Russ Adams’ RBI groundout, making the score 11-8.
Tech mounted one final comeback in the top of the ninth. With two outs Menocal doubled and Derik Goffena followed with a two-run homer, his second of the year, to make the score 11-10. Stockton walked to bring the go-ahead run to the plate, but Murton grounded out to second base to end the game.
The Yellow Jackets had numerous opportunities to take control of the game, but failed to capitalize with runners in scoring position. Tech left the bases loaded in the fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh innings, and stranded a season-high 17 men on base for the game.
The Tar Heels were led by three-hit afternoons from Greenberg and Braun, and Prosser and Farrell each added two hits. Boggs led the Tech offense with a 3-for-4 afternoon, reaching base in five of six plate appearances. Mark Teixeira had three hits, while Stockton and Murton added two hits each. Tech outhit Carolina 16-15 in the game.
Georgia Tech will next be in action at the 2001 Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament at Fort Mill, S.C., where the Yellow Jackets will look to defend their 2001 championship. Tech will be the No. 4 seed in the event, and will play No. 5 seed Duke on Wednesday at 10 a.m. All of Tech’s games in the Tournament will be broadcast on WREK-Radio (91.1 FM in Atlanta) and on the internet at www.ramblinwreck.com. Live scoring during the tournament will be available at www.theacc.com.
