University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Maryland
Webb Homer Lifts No. 6 Tar Heels Past Maryland, 5-3
April 9, 2005 | Baseball
April 9, 2005
COLLEGE PARK, Md. - Senior Justin Webb hit a go-ahead two-run home run in the sixth inning to lead sixth-ranked North Carolina (26-6, 10-2) to a 5-3 victory over Maryland (14-19, 4-13 ACC) Saturday at Shipley Field. With the victory, the Tar Heels have now won eight straight Atlantic Coast Conference games for the first time since 2002 and have secured their fourth straight series win over the Terps.
Sophomore right-hander Daniel Bard (6-2) went 6.2 innings and allowed three runs and struck out five en route to his third straight victory. He allowed just four hits and did not give up a base hit to the final 14 batters he faced, but did walk a career-high five batters. Junior Jonathan Hovis earned his third save in ACC play with 2.1 scoreless innings. He allowed two hits, one walk and fanned one. The Tar Heel pitchers also benefited from four double plays, which tied a season-best for Carolina.
Webb's homer continued his hot streak in ACC play, as he now has five home runs and 18 RBI in just 12 conference games. The homer was his also seventh of the season, which is tied for the team lead. Freshman first baseman Chad Flack had two more hits on the night and now has four in the series. He is currently on a seven-game hitting streak and followed Webb's home run with an RBI single in the sixth.
Maryland starter Ben Pfinsgraff (4-2) kept the Tar Heel off balance until their three-run sixth. He went six-plus innings and allowed five runs (three earned) on six hits and no walks. He struck out three. Five Maryland errors also aided the Carolina cause.
The Terrapins grabbed an early 2-0 lead with runs in both the second and third innings. Left fielder Will Frazier got Maryland on the board with a solo home run, and center fielder Truan Mehl followed with an RBI single in the third for the two-run cushion. Frazier's homer was his sixth of the year and the sixth allowed by Bard.
After ending the third with their third double play of the night, the Tar Heels managed to cut the lead in half without the benefit of a hit in the fourth. Third baseman Reid Fronk reached on an error to lead off the inning and came around to score on an RBI groundout by right fielder Jay Cox for the first Carolina run of the night.
Two innings later, the Tar Heels finally were able to break through against Pfinsgraff with three runs on four hits in the sixth. Webb brought home the first two runs with his two-run homer, and Flack followed with the RBI single to right. Flack's second hit of the night scored designated hitter Matt Ellington, who singled and was awarded second on a balk.
Carolina squandered a chance to break the game open in the seventh, as it loaded the bases with no outs but only managed one run. Center fielder Chase Younts, who reached on an error and moved to third on an error on a Fronk bunt, came around to score as Webb grounded into a bases-loaded double play for a 5-2 Tar Heel lead.
Maryland managed a run in the seventh to pull within a two on an RBI single by second baseman Elliot Singletary off Hovis, who came on for Bard with two on and two out in the inning.
Frazier had two hits to lead Maryland at the plate.
Carolina will go for its third straight ACC sweep at 1 p.m. Sunday.
