University of North Carolina Athletics
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Maryland
No. 3 Carolina Secures Maryland Series With 10-3 Victory
March 19, 2006 | Baseball
March 19, 2006
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - Third-ranked North Carolina broke open a tight game with eight runs over the seventh and eighth innings to claim a 10-3 win and a series victory over visiting Maryland Sunday at Boshamer Stadium. Left fielder Jay Cox homered for the third consecutive game, and center fielder Seth Williams had three doubles as the Tar Heels (17-3, 4-2 ACC) secured their fifth consecutive series win.
After dropping the series opener Friday, Carolina rallied for come-from-behind wins in the final two games of the series and has won 14 of its last 16 meetings with the Terps (8-13, 3-6 ACC).
Trailing 3-2 heading into the bottom of the seventh Sunday, the Tar Heels scored five times in the bottom of the inning to take their first lead of the afternoon and added three more runs in the eighth to close the seven-run victory. Williams was 3-for-4 with two runs scored, and catcher Benji Johnson went 2-for-3 with two runs scored and one batted in. Cox's three-run homer in the seventh was his fourth this week and career-best eighth of the season.
Junior Matt Danford (2-1) picked up the win in relief with two shutout innings. He allowed back-to-back base hits to open the eighth, but sophomore Andrew Carignan came on to strikeout the first two batters he faced and keep the Terps off the board. He also fanned two in the ninth to secure his fourth save of the season. UNC starter Robert Woodard, who earned his third straight no-decision, went five innings and allowed three runs (two earned) on four hits and one walk.
Maryland starter Brett Cecil (3-2) took the loss after allowing seven runs on eight hits and two walks. He struck out six in 6.2 innings and held the Tar Heels hitless in the third through sixth innings. Right fielder Matt Maropis and catcher Chad Durakis each had two hits to lead the Terps at the plate.
With Maryland holding a 3-2 lead in the seventh, Williams led off the bottom of the inning with his second double of the afternoon and tied the game on a sacrifice fly from right fielder Matt Spencer. With two out, second baseman Kyle Shelton delivered a go-ahead RBI single through the left side to drive in shortstop Josh Horton. Cox then sent a 1-1 pitch from Cecil off the scoreboard in left center to lift Carolina to a 7-3 cushion.
In the eighth, Williams led off with a double for the second straight inning, and pinch runner Garrett Gore scored on a sac fly by Horton to push the lead to 8-3. Pinch hitter Bryan Steed followed with a two-run double for the final 10-3 margin.
Maryland took a 2-0 lead for the third straight day when second baseman Dan Melvin walked and scored on an errant pickoff attempt by Johnson, and Durakis crossed the plate on third baseman Mike Murphy's RBI single in the top of the second.
But the Tar Heels quickly rebounded to tie the score in the bottom of the inning. Designated hitter Tim Federowicz started the rally with a single to left center, and Williams followed with a double into the right field gap to put runners on second and third. Horton scored Federowicz on an RBI grounder, and Johnson came through with a two-out single through the left side to drive in Williams and tie the game.
The 2-2 tie held until the top of the fifth when Maryland right fielder Matt Maropis connected for his first home run of the year, a solo shot off Woodard to left center.
Carolina returns to action with a two-game midweek series against Towson at Boshamer Stadium. Game time is 3 p.m. both Tuesday and Wednesday.
