Feb. 20, 2003

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CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - The 21st ranked University of North Carolina baseball team opened its 2003 season with a 19-8 win over Delaware State (1-8) Thursday afternoon at Boshamer Stadium. The Tar Heels exploded for 24 hits, including a career-high five by Jeremy Cleveland, en route to their sixth consecutive opening-day win.

Scott Manshack (1-0), coming off a 7-0 season as a sophomore, pitched six innings allowing just three hits to help lead the Tar Heels to the victory.

"Hopefully today was a good sign," said head coach Mike Fox. " It was important for us to get out early and swing the bat and hit the ball. Hopefully it will give the guys some confidence. We'll surprise some people with our offense."

After surrendering an unearned run in the first to Delaware State, Carolina pounced on the Hornets with a six-run second inning, highlighted by RBI triples by Ryan Blake and Sammy Hewitt and a run-scoring double by Sean Farrell.

The Tar Heels added three more runs in the fourth inning, including a two-out solo home run by Cleveland, who hit 10 homers last year as a sophomore.

Carolina went ahead 11-1 in the sixth on Chase Younts's third single of the game. Younts finished 3-for-5 in his 10th career start.

Trailing by 10 runs in the seventh, Delaware State got to the UNC bullpen in with a seven-run inning. UNC freshman Adam Kalkhof allowed six runs on five hits, including a leadoff home run by Nate Babcock.

UNC added two runs in the seventh and six runs in the eighth for the final 19-8 margin. Greg Mangum and Chad Prosser had four hits apiece batting first and second in the order. Hewitt had three hits in his first career start after missing last year due to injury.

The Tar Heels return to action this weekend for a three-game set versus the Seton Hall Pirates, beginning Friday at 3 p.m. Last season Seton Hall took two of three games from Carolina in the Tar Heels' season opening series.