March 3, 2006

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CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - Second-ranked North Carolina rallied from a four-run deficit to pull even in the bottom of the seventh inning, but Purdue catcher Spencer Ingaldson drove in the game-winning run with a ninth inning bunt single to lift the Boilermakers (2-1) to a 5-4 victory over the Tar Heels (8-1) Friday at Boshamer Stadium.

Ingaldson dropped a bunt down the third base line to score second baseman Eric Osborne, who singled off UNC reliever Jonathan Hovis (2-1) to lead off the inning. Carolina had runners on the corners with just one out in the bottom of the frame but was unable to push a run across and send the game to extra innings.

Chris Toneguzzi (1-0) earned the win for Purdue with 1.1 hitless innings. The Boilermakers had four players with two hits on the afternoon, including All-America shortstop Mitch Hilligoss, who went 2-for-5 with a homer and two runs scored, and Ingaldson.

Outfielders Jay Cox and Matt Iannetta each had two hits for the Tar Heels, who scored a season-low four runs. Cox hit his second home run of the season, and Iannetta recorded his first career multi-hit game. First baseman Chad Flack singled to push his hitting streak to 10 games, while outfielder Matt Spencer and shortstop Josh Horton each extended their career-best hitting streaks to eight games.

Hilligoss homered down the left field line on the first pitch of the game from UNC starter Robert Woodard to open the scoring for Purdue.

The Boilermakers scored two more in the fourth to take a 3-0 lead, but Woodard was able to leave the bases loaded, preventing any further damage. Right fielder Neal Gorka bunted back toward the mound and reached on a throwing error by Woodard to drive in the first run, and second baseman Eric Osborn followed with a single through the left side to plate the second.

Hilligoss doubled and later scored on a wild pitch in the fifth to push the Purdue lead to 4-0.

Spencer singled, stole his team-high seventh base and scored on a single down the right field line by Iannetta to start the Tar Heels' rally. Cox's sixth inning solo home run to left cut the lead to two, before Carolina scratched out two more runs in the seventh to tie the game.

Designated hitter Seth Williams singled under the glove of Hilligoss to drive in Spencer, who reached on a Hilligoss two-base error. After a sacrifice bunt from second baseman Bryan Steed and a second single by Iannetta put runners on the corners, third baseman Reid Fronk tied the game with a sacrifice fly to right.

Woodard allowed four runs on eight hits and two walks and struck out four. Purdue starter Jay Buente went seven innings and gave up nine hits and four runs.

The series resumes Saturday at 1 p.m. with Daniel Bard on the mound for the Tar Heels, and concludes at 1:30 p.m. Sunday with Andrew Miller set to start for Carolina.