May 12, 2002

The sixth-ranked North Carolina Tar Heels and the Duke Blue Devils put on an offensive display, combining for 32 hits and seven home runs in a 19-10 UNC victory Sunday afternoon at Jack Coombs Field.

The Tar Heels jumped out to an early 16-2 lead against an injury-depleted Duke pitching staff. The Blue Devils chipped away at the lead with two runs in four consecutive innings, but were unable to overcome the deficit as North Carolina won its sixth-straight game.

"We dug ourselves too deep a hole," Duke head coach Bill Hillier said. "You can't give up 13 runs in two innings to a good team. But I'm pleased with the way we battled. Our pitching staff is hurting right now, but we kept fighting. Colin Begley did a good job of coming in and saving our bullpen."

The Tar Heels jumped out to an early lead, scoring three runs in the top of the first. Adam Greenberg led off the game with a triple down the right field line and scored on a sacrifice fly by Russ Adams. After Sean Farrell walked and stole second, Chris Maples singled and Farrell advanced to third. Farrel scored UNC's second run on a single by Jeremy Cleveland. Maples stole third and sored on a ground out by Chris Ianetta.

Duke got two runs back in the bottom of the inning to make it a 3-2 game. Senior shortstop Kevin Kelly, who graduated earlier in the day, drew a one-out walk and advanced to third when junior right fielder Larry Broadway extended his hitting streak to 10 games with a double to left field. Kelly and Broadway both scored on a single down the right field line by junior catcher Troy Caradonna.

North Carolina extended its lead to 9-2 in the third inning with a three-run homer over the right field fence by Cleveland and three consecutive bases loaded walks.

The Tar Heels added seven runs in the fourth inning on seven hits, including home runs by Cleveland and Maples and one run in the fifth on a home run by Ron Braun.

Duke scored two runs in the fifth inning. Freshman first baseman Tim Layden led off the inning with a single to right field and sophomore pitcher Begley hit a two-run homer over the left field fence in his first career at bat.

The Blue Devils added two more runs in the sixth on a two-run double by Layden and two in the seventh on a two-run home run by junior Brian Patrick.

UNC capped the scoring with a solo home run by Adams in the eighth and a run in the ninth.

Patrick (2-3) took the loss in his second career start for Duke, giving up nine runs in 2.2 innings pitched. Begley pitched well in relief, allowing three runs on four hits and three walks in 5.1 innings. Garry Bakker (6-2) picked up the win for the Tar Heels, allowing six runs (four earned) in 5.0 innings.

Duke (21-29, 3-16 ACC) and North Carolina (37-15, 15-5 ACC) play the series finale Monday at 1:00 p.m.