University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Florida State
No. 1 Seminoles Down No. 3 Tar Heels, 12-6
June 21, 1999 | Baseball
March 26, 1999
Tallahassee, Fla. - No. 1-ranked Florida State used its power game and took advantage of some poor defense by No. 3 North Carolina to down the Tar Heels, 12-6, Friday night at Dick Howser Stadium. The Seminoles hit two first-inning home runs and Carolina committed four errors in the game, three of which came in the five-run FSU fifth inning. With the win, FSU improved to 27-3 on the season, 7-0 in the Atlantic Coast Conference. The Tar Heels fell to 22-3, 2-2.
Jon McDonald (5-1) picked up the win for FSU despite allowing six hits and six runs in 6.1 innings. He allowed two doubles and two runs in the top of the first and settled down before allowing two runs in both the sixth and seventh innings. Kyle Snyder (6-2) allowed eight hits and 11 runs, seven of which were earned, in 5.0 innings and took the loss despite striking out nine. It was the second consecutive ACC loss for Snyder after starting the season with six consecutive wins. Snyder allowed eight runs in a loss to Wake Forest March 19. The 5.0 innings was Snyders shortest outing of the season.
Carolina jumped on McDonald for two runs in the top of the first inning on a two-run double by Jarrett Shearin that scored Clay Hooper and Chris LaMarsh. Carolina had Shearin and third base and Tyrell Godwin at second with one out but McDonald rallied to strike out Ryan Earey and Matt McCay and escape the jam.
The Seminoles bounced right back in the bottom half of the first, taking the lead with three runs on a solo home run by Marshall McDougall and a two-run shot by Sam Scott. Matt Diaz nearly hit a solo homer of his own but Shearin grabbed the ball at the wall in centerfield.
Florida State added two more runs in the bottom of the second to take a 5-2 lead, crossing the plate twice on two singles, a walk, a hit batter and a sacrifice fly. The Noles stretched the lead to 6-2 in the fourth when Brett Groves singled and scored when UNC first baseman Ryan Blake misplayed Snyders throw on a sacrifice bunt by Chris Smith. The Seminoles put the game out of reach in the bottom of the fifth, scoring five runs on three hits and three Tar Heel errors.
Carolina did score two runs in the top of the sixth when Shearin reached on a strikeout-wild pitch and Godwin singled. Shearin then stole third and Godwin advanced to second base on a wild pitch. Both runners scored on a sacrifice fly by Earey and an RBI groundout by McCay. UNC added two more runs in the top of the seventh, loading the bases with one out before the rally ended when Godwin was called out on the infield fly rule on what initially appeared to be an infield single.
The Tar Heels and Seminoles continue their three-game series Saturday night at 7:00 p.m.
