University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Arizona State
Sun Devils Slip By No. 4 Tar Heels in 11
March 4, 2005 | Baseball
March 4, 2005
GREENVILLE, N.C. - Arizona State left fielder Colin Curtis reached on an error and later scored on a wild pitch to give the Sun Devils (9-10) a 4-3 11-inning, come-back win over fourth-ranked North Carolina (9-1) Friday in the third game of the Keith LeClair Classic at East Carolina's Clark-LeClair Stadium. Sophomore lefty Andrew Miller had a career-high 12 strikeouts, and Justin Webb and Chad Flack both homered for the Tar Heels, who lost their first extra-inning game of the season.
With two out in the 11th and UNC senior Bryan Phillips on the mound, Arizona State put the winning run on base when Curtis reached on a fielding error by Tar Heel shortstop Josh Horton. Curtis stole second and moved to third when first baseman Jeff Larish walked and catcher Tuffy Gosewisch was hit by a pitch. With pinch hitter Rocky Laguna at the plate, Curtis then scored on Phillips' wild pitch to secure the win for the Sun Devils.
After grabbing a 3-1 lead in the sixth on Webb and Flack's home runs, Carolina was hitless the rest of the night against ASU reliever Jason Urquidez, who worked 5.1 scoreless innings and struck out nine to improve to 3-2 on the season. In all, the Tar Heels fanned 14 times on the night and left seven runners on base.
Phillips (0-1) took the loss for the Tar Heels. Miller worked a season-high 7.2 innings and allowed three runs (one earned) on six hits and four walks. The 12 strikeouts marked the second double-digit strikeout game of Miller's career, and his previous best was 11 in eight shutout innings at Miami last season. Junior Jonathan Hovis worked 3.1 scoreless innings of relief for the Tar Heels and struck out three.
Trailing 1-0 after five, the Tar Heels used the long ball to take a 3-1 lead in the top of the sixth. Webb led off the frame with a solo shot off ASU starter Zechry Zinicola into ECU's "Jungle" in left center. Three batters later, Flack followed a walk to left fielder Mike Daniel with a two-run shot over the right field wall for his second homer of the season and a 3-1 Tar Heel advantage. Webb's home run was also his second on the year.
The Sun Devils then rallied for a pair of two-out runs off Miller to tie the score at three in the seventh. After back-to-back Sun Devil strikeouts to open the inning, ASU center fielder J.J. Sferra started the rally with a single, and right fielder Travis Buck followed with a double to deep center to score Sferra and cut the lead to 3-2. After a walk to Curtis, Larish reached on a fielding error by Carolina third baseman Kyle Shelton to tie the game. Following the hit, Miller was lifted in favor of Hovis.
After getting out of a bases-loaded jam in the top of the second, the Sun Devils scored the first run of the night in the bottom of the inning to take the 1-0 lead. Designated hitter Willy Fox singled up the middle and stole second to start the rally. He moved over to third on a grounder to UNC third baseman Reid Fronk, whose throw to first on the play was high, allowing ASU third baseman Jeff Landry reach safely. After Miller's fourth strikeout of the night, the Sun Devils executed a delayed steal play, were Landy swiped second and Fox stole home after the throw to second.
ASU starter Zinicola was lifted following Fronk's homer and worked 5.2 innings. He allowed three runs on three hits and four walks, while striking out five. Urquidez came on to get the final out of the sixth and closed out the game.
Buck was 2-for-6 to lead the Sun Devils at the plate. Led by Miller, Carolina pitching recorded a season-high 15 stikeouts.
The tourney continues Saturday, as the Tar Heels face Ohio State at 2 p.m., and Sunday when Carolina plays Michigan at 1 p.m.
