Pirates Drop Heartbreaker at UNC, 7-6
April 23, 2003 | Baseball
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - North Carolina defeated East Carolina, 7-6, on Wednesday evening at Boshamer Stadium. The Tar Heels trailed 6-5 going into the bottom of the ninth, but mounted a rally, capped off by a two-out bunt single by Sean Farrell which scored Jeremy Cleveland with the game-winning run.
East Carolina (24-17-1) jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the top of the first. Jamie Paige singled to lead off the game and after a walk to Ryan Jones, Darryl Lawhorn drove home both runners with a single to center field.
The Pirates added to their lead with two runs in the top of the second inning. Ben Sanderson singled and scored ECU's third run on a sacrifice fly by Jones. Paige reached on his second single and came around on an RBI double by Lawhorn.
The Tar Heels (32-12 10-5 ACC) got on the board with three runs in the bottom of the third. Adam Weaver doubled to lead off the inning, and Greg Mangum followed with a single up the middle. After a sacrifice fly by Chad Prosser scored Weaver, Cleveland continued his outstanding season by blasting his 15th home run of the season over the scoreboard and bringing Carolina within one run.
Carolina tied the score with a run in the bottom of the fourth inning. With one out, Mike Daniel ripped his second single of the game into right field. The next batter was Wes Moyer who doubled down the left field line, scoring Daniel and tying the game.
East Carolina reclaimed the lead with a run in the top of the fifth. Paige's third single of the game scored Brian Cavanaugh who entered the game as a pinch runner.
The Tar Heels again tied the score when Farrell hit his ninth home run of the year, a solo shot, in the bottom of the sixth inning.
The Pirates again went ahead with a run in the top of the seventh. Luke Cherry doubled leading off the inning and came around to score three batters later when Jones hit his second sac fly of the game, giving ECU a 6-5 lead.
Carolina's dramatic come-from-behind win began when Mangum singled leading off the bottom of the ninth inning. After a sacrifice bunt by Prosser, Cleveland was intentionally walked. Chris Iannetta flied out and advanced the runners, but brought the Pirates within one out of a victory. East Carolina closer Greg Bunn threw a wild pitch on ball four to Ryan Blake which allowed Mangum to cross the plate with the tying run. With the third baseman playing deep, Farrell then dropped down a bunt and Cleveland scored the game-winning run as Farrell beat out a wild throw to first base and was mobbed by his teammates.
East Carolina embarks on another Conference USA road trip when it plays at Louisville in a three-game series beginning Friday night.
