Feb. 21, 2004

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CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - Junior catcher Chris Iannetta went 2-for-3 with a home run and three runs batted in, and freshman righty Daniel Bard earned the win in his first collegiate start to lead No. 17 North Carolina (2-0) to a 5-2 victory over Seton Hall (0-2) Saturday at Boshamer Stadium.

With the win, the Tar Heels have now won five in a row over Seton Hall and start 2-0 for the second consecutive season.

Bard (1-0) went 5.1 innings and allowed just two runs on four hits and a walk. The Charlotte, N.C., native also struck out seven batters in his Tar Heel debut. Rookie closer Robert Woodard struck out the side in the ninth to earn his first career save.

After a perfect first inning from Bard, Iannetta got the Tar Heels on the board in the bottom half of the frame with a two-run double to right center. The hit scored first baseman Justin Webb and right fielder Marshall Hubbard, who also doubled, but Iannetta was thrown out at third trying to stretch the hit into a triple.

Carolina pushed the lead to 3-0 in the second thanks to an RBI groundout by second baseman Greg Mangum, who had the game-winning hit Friday. Center fielder Chase Younts, who walked to lead off the inning and later moved on to third, scored on the play.

With the help of a pair of double plays, Bard faced the minimum through three innings, but the Pirates put together a pair of singles in the fourth, and first baseman Tim Pahuta came through with an RBI groundout to trim the lead to 3-1. But Bard quickly rebounded to strike out the side in the fifth inning.

Iannetta struck again in the fifth with a homer off the scoreboard in left center, his first of the season. The solo shot increased the Tar Heel lead to 4-1.

Seton Hall quickly cut the Tar Heel advantage to two runs once again in the top of the sixth on a sacrifice fly from third baseman Joey Scott. But Carolina responded in the bottom of the inning when Webb drove in shortstop Craig Corrado, who doubled, to increase the lead to the 5-2 final. That hit chased Pirate starter Mike Santmyer (0-1), who allowed five runs (four earned) on eight hits in 5.2 innings. He also walked three and fanned three.

Out of the Tar Heel bullpen, freshman Andrew Miller got the final two outs of the sixth, and senior Kevin Brower worked two scoreless innings before giving way to Woodard.

Iannetta was 2-for-3 with the homer, a double and three RBI. Left fielder Mike Daniel also had two hits for Carolina. Shortstop Santiago Chi went 3-for-4 to lead the Pirates.

The series concludes Sunday at 1:30 p.m. with sophomore Adam Kalkhof taking the mound for the Tar Heels.