Baseball Ends Season at Regional

Playing just 15 hours after completing a grueling doubleheader on June 1, the Tar Heels defeated South Carolina 8-4 earlier in the day, forcing a deciding seventh game of the weekend tournament. UNC was unable to overcome the Gamecocks on their home field in the finale.

In a 64-game season that saw the Tar Heels set new team records in every major offensive category, it was one of the nation's finest closers who shut down UNC's bats and keyed the USC victory.

Blake Taylor, who led the country in saves, made his first start of the season and went the distance, allowing just one run on seven hits over nine innings for the victory.

Chad Prosser hit a solo homerun in the fifth inning to make the score 2-1, but that's as close as UNC would get.

"They got what they needed today out of Taylor, and he was obviously the key to the game," North Carolina coach Mike Fox said.

The Tar Heels finished their season 43-21. South Carolina went on to lose to Texas in the championship game of the College World Series.

Martin, Woolley Join National Team

Abby Martin and Abbey Woolley, both seniors on the 2001 North Carolina field hockey team, have earned spots on the U.S. National Team following open trials in Virginia Beach, Va. Martin and Woolley were among four players added to the senior squad roster, which now totals 22 players.

Martin finished her UNC career ranked eighth on the school's career scoring list and ninth on list for goals. As a senior, she led the Tar Heels in scoring with 40 points (13 goals, 14 assists) and was named All-ACC and second-team All-America. She was selected as the team's recipient of the Anderson Mark of Excellence Most Valuable Player Award for 2001.

Woolley started all 21 games last season for UNC and ranked second on the team in scoring with 32 points (12 goals, eight assists). She earned All-ACC honors and was named second-team All-Southeast Region.

McPike Racks Up Awards

Christine McPike, a member of the 2002 North Carolina women's lacrosse team, was named the national Midfielder of the Year by the Intercollegiate Women's Lacrosse Coaches Association, the organization announced on June 10.

Also honored were Rachael Becker of Princeton (Defender of the Year), Erin Elbe of Georgetown (Attacker of the Year) and Tricia Dabrowski of Loyola (Goalkeeper of the Year).

The announcement was just one of a long list of honors for McPike last season. She also was named ACC Player of the Year, ACC Tournament MVP and All-ACC.

She also was a finalist for the Tewaaraton Trophy and the Honda Award, both of which are awarded to the national player of the year.

McPike led the Tar Heels to a 17-3 record last season, en route to the 2002 ACC championship.

UNC made it all the way to the national semifinal, only to lose to Princeton 16-2.