University of California, Los Angeles, Athletics
UCLA
North Carolina
Baseball Loses Second Straight To UNC 6-4
February 19, 2000 | Baseball
Feb. 19, 2000
LOS ANGELES, Calif. -- North Carolina starting pitcher Eric Henderson held the Bruins to three runs off four hits through six innings as the ninth-ranked Tar Heels won their second straight victory over the No. 2 UCLA baseball squad 6-4 at Jackie Robinson Stadium Saturday afternoon.
With the loss, the Bruins' overall record falls to 6-4, while North Carolina remains undefeated with an 8-0 season mark. Henderson picked up his second win of the season, while UCLA starter Josh Karp (2-1) suffered his first loss. UNC's Derrick DePriest, who pitched the final two innings, picked up his second save.
UCLA took an early 1-0 lead in the first inning when junior third baseman Garrett Atkins hit his third home run of the series against the Tar Heels. UNC answered in the second inning on a three-run homer from designated hitter Ryan Blake to give the Tar Heels a lead they would never relinquish.
North Carolina added another run in the fourth off an RBI triple by second baseman Chad Prosser and added two more in the sixth on a two-run home run by third baseman Sean Farrell before UCLA freshman Mike Kunes was brought in from the bullpen to relieve a struggling Karp. Karp allowed all six UNC runs on nine hits, while striking out four and walking four.
The Bruins attempted to close the scoring gap when in the sixth, junior left-fielder Bill Scott singled in Atkins. UCLA threatened again in the seventh when junior right fielder Nick Lyon led off the inning with a walk, driving Henderson to the showers. UNC's Ryan Earey then moved from first base to the mound, only to be greeted by a hit and run single from Aldo Pinto which advanced Lyon to third.
Junior center fielder Charles Merricks drove in Lyon with a deep sacrifice fly to center and Atkins singled in Pinto to cut the Tar Heel lead to 6-4. But North Carolina brought in Derrick DePriest to pitch the eighth and ninth innings, retiring all six batters he faced.
Defensively, UCLA made some dazzling plays in the field, including two catches against the wall in center by Merricks, saving possible extra base hits. In the eighth inning, Scott raced after a foul ball down the left field line and made a difficult catch against the wall. In the infield, junior second baseman Chase Utley made a fine play deep in the hole at second, going to his right and making a great throw to nick the runner at first. UCLA junior catcher Forrest Johnson also threw out three Tar Heel baserunners attempting to steal.
The Bruins will attempt to salvage a win in the third game of the series tomorrow, as these two teams meet again at 1 p.m. at Jackie Robinson Stadium. Junior left-hander Rob Henkel will be on the mound for the Bruins, while North Carolina will counter with left-hander Chris Elmore. The game will be broadcast live on the internet at www.broadcast.com.
