June 4, 2004

Columbia, S.C. – An RBI single by Sammy Hewitt that scored Mike Daniel
in the bottom of the ninth inning capped a two-run rally and lifted
North Carolina to a 6-5 victory over Coastal Carolina in the first game of
the Columbia, S.C., NCAA Baseball Regional on Friday afternoon.

After Chris Mangum notched a one-out single and stole second in the
ninth, Daniel pulled the Tar Heels (42-19) even at 5-5 with an RBI single
that scored Mangum. Daniel then advanced to second on an error, before
Hewitt took Chanticleer (40-22) reliever Byron Binda’s (3-5) pitch to
left field to drive in the winning run and end the contest.

North Carolina reliever Robert Woodard tossed four and a third innings
of scoreless relief to pick up the victory. He struck out three and
walked one after taking over for starter Garry Bakker in the fifth inning.

Coastal Carolina threatened to get on the board first in the top of the
opening inning, as Brett Granstrand led off the game with a double to
left field. After Jon Foisy flied out to right field, Bakker picked
Grandstrand off second, before striking out Mike Costanzo to end the
inning.

North Carolina opened the scoring in the game, by taking a 1-0 lead in
the bottom of the second inning, as Sammy Hewitt and Mell Adams reached
base on a walk and a single respectively to begin the frame. The pair
advanced on a sacrifice bunt by Justin Webb, before Chase Younts was hit
by a pitch to load the bases. Greg Magnum drew a two-out walk from
Coastal starter Jake Hurry that scored Hewitt, before Hurry struck out Ross
Cook to end the threat.

The Chanticleers answered back with three runs of their own in the top
of the third inning to take a 3-1 advantage. Chris Todd and Derek
Martin both singled to open the frame and Jeremiah Grove reached on an error
to load the bases. A single by Grandstrand down the right field line
scored Todd and Martin, making the score 2-1. Grove then scored when
Bakker’s pickoff attempt escaped the grasp of North Carolina first baseman
Sammy Hewitt.

Coastal upped its lead to 5-1 in the top of the fifth inning when
Martin led off with a double down the right field line. He moved to third on
a sacrifice bunt by Grove and then scored on a single by Mike Costanzo.
Brett Gordon followed with another single that scored Jon Foisy, who
reached base after being hit by a pitch. That hit chased Bakker from the
contest in favor of reliever Robert Woodard. Woodard was effective,
retiring the first 10 batters he faced.

A two-RBI double Chris Iannetta in the bottom of the fifth inning
allowed the Tar Heels to cut the lead to 5-3. Iannetta’s hit scored both
Bryan Steed, who led off the inning with a double and Cook, who drew a
one-out walk from Hurry. North Carolina added another run in the bottom of
the seventh inning, when Marshall Hubbard’s sacrifice fly to center
field scored Gren Mangum, who reached base after being hit by a pitch and
advanced on a balk and a sacrifice bunt by Iannetta, making the score
5-4.

North Carolina advances to face the winner of tonight’s second game
between South Carolina and The Citadel at 3 p.m., on Saturday, while
Coastal Carolina will await that loser of that contest at 11 a.m.

-USC-