News - Sports

Tuesday, May. 13, 2008

Eagles to face No. 2 UNC

Joe Hudak was honest about it.

"It has no bearing on the rest of our season," he said, previewing Winthrop's game vs. No. 2 North Carolina tonight. "Since we don't have a chance at an at-large postseason berth, it's not as important as it could be."

He paused.

"Not to say it's not an important game," he finished.

The Eagles (22-30) are focusing on their most vital mission this week, but they don't have to act on it until Friday. That's when they head to UNC Asheville for a three-game series to conclude the regular season, needing one win and a High Point loss or two wins over the Bulldogs to sew up fourth place in the Big South Conference.

Beating the Tar Heels (42-9) would be a huge accomplishment, but at this stage of the season, only the BSC tournament championship is going to get Winthrop into the NCAA tournament. Of course the Eagles will head to Cary, N.C., tonight wanting to win, but if they don't, oh well.

"Yes and no," said utility man Bryan Bogue, asked if the team has any lack of intensity in this type of situation. "We all know what our season depends on, but at the same time, once you start the game, you're just as intense as you are for any other game."

Winning tonight would give the Eagles a needed jolt of confidence, especially after dropping two home games to former BSC cellar-dweller Radford over the weekend and with the team mired in a midweek skid. Since beating then-No. 11 Georgia on April 8, Winthrop has lost four straight midweek games, all to unranked teams.

A win also gives Hudak his 800th career victory. Although Hudak said he doesn't pay much attention to personal milestones, getting one over one of the best teams in the country sure wouldn't hurt.

"We're going to have to be at the top of our game," he said. "It will be a tall task for us to beat them."

Since beating Winthrop 6-1 in Rock Hill on Feb. 28, the Heels have shown no signs of slowing down. Despite not playing a true home game all year -- UNC's field is being renovated, forcing the team to the Olympic complex in nearby Cary -- the two-time defending national runners-up have again stormed to an impressive record.

They're hitting .327 and have a 2.30 ERA, gifts from a staff that can constantly recycle guys that throw 90 or above. Winthrop, seeking to save its best pitching for the weekend, will give several pitchers an inning or two as an extended audition, although Billy Tinsley will start.

"We'll try our best to win tonight, because as I said, it's still an important game," Hudak said. "For whatever reason, we've been pretty inconsistent in midweek games since we beat Georgia."

• NOTE: Catcher John Murrian, still recovering from a hairline fracture in his left hand, will travel tonight but won't play except in an emergency. Hudak said getting Murrian as healthy as possible for the weekend and the BSC tournament is the most important goal. Backup Billy Froehlich will take over after deciding to wait on surgery for his broken nose. Froehlich will finish the year and then get his nose re-broken.