Baseball Squanders Lead Against Cal

Despite two solo homers by Ryan Blake and one by Adam Greenberg, UNC (5-5) lost to the Golden Bears 7-4 at Boshamer Stadium.

"We're not going to win games hitting solo home runs like we did today," Fox said. "We've got to hit-and-run, we've got to steal bases and then hit a double. We're not an all-or-nothing team, and we can't fool ourselves into thinking that."

The contest was the last of a three-game series between the two schools this weekend. In Friday's doubleheader, the Tar Heels lost the opener 4-2 but rebounded to win the second game 7-5.

In both losses, UNC led until the final three innings.

The Tar Heels' offensive firepower seemed evident in Sunday's contest with Greenberg's leadoff homer over the left field wall. Three batters later, Sean Farrell singled to bring in Chad Prosser for a 2-0 lead.

But UNC starting pitcher Garry Bakker got into trouble in the fourth inning despite a two-out, 0-2 count against John Baker. Baker drew a walk, and the Golden Bears took advantage to get a spurt of runs.

Brian Horwitz followed the walk with a single to left, and in another two-strike situation, Jeff Dragicevich laced the ball down the third base line to score Horwitz and Baker, making it a 2-2 contest.

"You get a two-out walk, and it kills you every time," Fox said. "And that's a team that just took advantage of a walk, and you have to give them credit. If you don't get it in the right spot, with aluminum bats, it will get put in play."

Blake's first homer temporarily gave the Tar Heels a 3-2 lead in the fourth, and then 4-2 on his second shot in the fifth.

"We get a lead, and then don't put the nail in the coffin," Blake said. "But it's just the beginning of the season, and we'll start doing it."

But it didn't start Sunday, as California's second offensive spurt proved too much to overcome.

In the seventh inning, the Golden Bears plated five runs to make the score 7-4. The Tar Heels used four pitchers in the inning: Michael Gross, Carter Harrell, Scott Senatore and Whitley Benson. But California continued to get hits through the infield until Benson struck out Justin Nelson to end the onslaught.

In the bottom of the seventh, Jeremy Cleveland represented the tying run at the plate, but he grounded out to end the game and UNC's comeback hopes.

The Sports Editor can be reached at sports@unc.edu.