June 1, 2002
Columbia, S.C. – North Carolina scored nine runs off of 15 hits and
committed only one error to defeat James Madison 9-7 and advance to the
Regional Championship game in Columbia, S.C. James Madison put together
seven runs off of 12 hits and committed two errors as they were
eliminated from competition.
North Carolina now faces South Carolina in the Regional
Championship Sunday at 1:30 p.m. EDT at Sarge Frye Field.
North Carolina struck first in the top of the second when, with
one out, Ron Braun hit a solo home run over the right center wall to
give the Tar Heels a 1-0 lead. UNC would be unable to score another run
in that inning.
James Madison came back in the bottom of the second as Alan
Lindsey reached first after being hit by a pitch with one out. Pat
Cunningham reached on base due to an error by the UNC shortstop and
Lindsey advanced to second. Dustin Bowman came up next and hit a
three-run home run to centerfield, giving the Dukes a 3-1 lead over the
Tar Heels. That would be all of the runs JMU was able to get across in
that inning.
In the top of the third, North Carolina short stop Russ Adams
came up with one out and hit a solo home run to right field to put the
Tar Heel deficit at one as the Dukes maintained a 3-2 lead. James
Madison came back in the bottom of the inning, scoring two runs. Eddie
Kim singled to left field with one out and then advanced to second on a
wild pitch. Alan Lindsey followed Kim and doubled to center field,
scoring Kim. Lindsey then advanced to third on a wild pitch. Pat
Cunningham hit a sacrifice fly to center field, scoring Lindsey. This
gave the Dukes a 5-2 lead.
North Carolina’s bats woke up in the top of the fifth with Russ
Adams singling up the middle with one out. Sean Farrell reached first
after an error by the JMU second baseman and Russ Adams advanced to
third. Chris Maples hit a sharp grounder to short, which prompted the
Dukes to put Farrell out at second, but Russ Adams was able to score and
Maples was safe at first. Jeremy Cleveland hit a single to third which
advanced Maples to second. Both Cleveland and Maples advanced one bass
on a balk. Ron Braun struck out swinging, but was declared safe at first
on a passed ball while Maples scored and Cleveland went to third.
At this point, Kurt Isenberg came into pitch for James Madison. Greg
Mangum singled to first, which scored Cleveland and advanced Braun to
second. Chad Prosser walked which load the bases for the Tar Heels.
Braun then attempted to score on a passed ball, but was thrown out to
end the inning. That put the game in a 5-5 tie. Both teams would go on
to score two runs in the sixth inning to make the game a 7-7 tie.
In the top of the eighth, Mell Adams pinch hit for Mickey Burgess and
drew a walk to lead off the inning. Adam Greenberg reached base on an
error by the JMU catcher, advancing Mell Adams to second. Russ Adams
flied out to center field to give UNC one out. Mike Trussell came into
pitch for JMU at this point, relieving Isenberg. Sean Farrell singled to
left field, scoring Mell Adams. Chris Maples singled to center, scoring
Greenberg. That would be all UNC would get in that inning, but that
would be all they would need as North Carolina won 9-7.
