OMAHA, Neb. — After a 3 hour, 5 minute weather delay at Rosenblatt Stadium, UNC's elimination game against LSU was suspended Thursday night with the Tar Heels leading 2-0 in the top of the first inning.
The game will resume at 7:08 p.m. EST tonight with the seventh battter of the game, Garrett Gore, at the plate with one strike and one out.
The rest of the College World Series match-ups have been moved back a day, meaning Georgia will play Stanford at 2 p.m. Saturday, and either UNC or the Tigers will play Fresno State in the 7 p.m. game.
Rightfielder Tim Fedroff put No. 2 seeded Carolina on the board first when his RBI double brought home Dustin Ackley for Ackley's school record 81st run scored of the season to make it 1-0. Then, Tigers starting pitcher Blake Martin loaded the bases when he beaned catcher Tim Federowicz on the back of his batting helmet, then second baseman Kyle Seager on his right elbow. Martin was so rattled he threw four straight balls to Chad Flack, who walked to score Fedroff to give UNC a 2-0 cushion before lightning struck.
Fox said he didn't know if he would still start freshman right-hander Matt Harvey, who warmed up before Thursday's game but never got the chance to go to the mound. LSU coach Paul Mainieri said he planned to pull Martin if if the weather hadn't been delayed, and said he didn't know who he would have on the mound when the game resumes.
"It's going to be a long night, knowing you're leaving with one out and the bases loaded and in a 2-0 hole,'' Mainieri said.
The coaches were not consulted on whether to postpone the game, they said, only as to whether they wanted to play at 2 or 7 tonight.
Robbi Pickeral has covered ACC sports for The News & Observer since 2003. She can be reached at 
Comments
Rain-delayed arms
Thu, 06/19/2008 - 22:42 — GWScott (not verified)What does this delay mean for the starting pitchers? May be good news for LSU, since starter Martin was throwing the ball everywhere but in strike zone. Guessing LSU will go with new starter. What about UNC? Their guy never threw a ball, but he did have to warm up extensively. Is his arm lively enough to go again tomorrow? Meanwhile, every other pitcher on every other team gets an extra day of rest. This generally works to the favor of the pitchers, in general, and also for the teams with shallow pitching staffs.
GO MOOCHIES GO
Thu, 06/19/2008 - 22:17 — FloydTurboKeep That Rally Going Boys .....