University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Virginia Tech
No. 1 North Carolina Outlasts Virginia Tech, 9-4
April 14, 2006 | Baseball
April 14, 2006
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - No. 1 North Carolina overcame three errors and four unearned runs to escape with a 9-4 win over visiting Virginia Tech Friday at Boshamer Stadium. The Tar Heels (29-7, 10-6 ACC) scored five times in the eighth to break open a tight game and give junior lefty Andrew Miller his eighth victory of the season.
In eight innings, Miller allowed four unearned runs on five hits and four walks to run his record to 8-0 for the first time in his career. He struck out just two batters but that was enough to move past Scott Bankhead and into sixth on the Tar Heels' career list. Miller, who lowered his earned run average to 1.33, has given up just two earned runs over his last four starts.
With the game tied at four in the eighth, Carolina second baseman Bryan Steed reached on an error, and third baseman Reid Fronk followed with a perfectly placed bloop double down the left field line to put runners on second and third with just one out. The Hokies (14-20, 2-14 ACC) brought in righty Nicky Bowers, who walked first baseman Chad Flack to load the bases before shortstop Josh Horton singled up the middle to score two and give the Tar Heels the lead for good. Catcher Benji Johnson and pinch hitter followed with back-to-back RBI singles before designated hitter Tim Federowicz hit sacrifice fly to deep center to close out the scoring.
Federowicz, who was 2-for-4, drove in three runs on the night to take over the team lead with 35 RBI. Johnson equaled career highs with three hits and two runs scored, and Flack also added two hits and two runs scored.
Virginia Tech reliever Josh Canova (1-1) pitched six effective innings but suffered the loss after allowing six runs (five earned) on nine hits. Third baseman Bryan Thomas and first baseman Sean O'Brien each had two hits to lead the Hokies at the plate.
The first of four unearned runs gave the Hokies a 1-0 lead in the first as Thomas singled and came around to score on a single through the left side by O'Brien.
After leaving three runners in scoring position over the first and second innings, the Tar Heels got two-run base hits from Federowicz and Steed to jump out to a 4-1 lead in the third. Carolina loaded the bases on singles by Flack and Johnson and a walk to Horton before Federowicz singled to shallow center to drive in Flack and Horton. Two batters later, Steed sent a chopper through the left side to score Johnson and Federowicz and give UNC a three-run cushion.
Three more unearned runs for the Hokies tied the game in the sixth, as Miller allowed just one base hit in the frame but walked three. Thomas reached on the second error of the night by Fronk to lead off the inning and later scored on a bases loaded walk by designated hitter Luke Padgett. Right fielder Jose Cueto singled and scored on a double play grounder by left fielder Billy Marn to bring Tech within one. The Hokies tied the game on a fielder's choice, as O'Brien scored from third while Marn stayed in a run down between first and second until the tying run could cross the plate.
After Virginia Tech tied the game in the sixth, Miller settled down to face the minimum over the next two innings to keep the game tied until the Tar Heels broke through in the eighth.
With a five run cushion, sophomore Tyler Trice opened the ninth before putting two runners on. Closer Andrew Carignan came on the strike out all three batters the faced to lock up the series-opening win.
Virginia Tech starter Evan Frederickson went just 1.1 innings and allowed no runs and no hits but walked five. He left with the bases loaded in the second, and Canova induced a double play grounder to close out the inning.
The three-game series continues at 1 p.m. Saturday and 1:30 p.m. Sunday at Boshamer Stadium.
