University of North Carolina Athletics
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Florida State
Top-Ranked Seminoles Take Series Finale From No. 6 UNC
April 2, 2006 | Baseball
April 2, 2006
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - Florida State second baseman Tony Thomas, Jr. drove in three runs, including what proved to be the game-winner in the top of the seventh, and North Carolina stranded eight base runners in key situations as the top-ranked Seminoles (27-4, 9-3 ACC) salvaged a 6-5 win in the series finale against the No. 6 Tar Heels (23-6, 7-5 ACC) Sunday in the 1,000th game played at Boshamer Stadium. Carolina claimed its third straight home series against FSU thanks to wins Friday and Saturday.
Thomas was 2-for-3 with two runs scored and three RBI to lead the Seminoles to their first win of the weekend. He tripled home two and scored on an error in the third and followed with a seventh inning double to put FSU in the lead for good.
Reliever Brent March (2-1) picked up the win with 1.2 scoreless innings of work, and the Florida State bullpen combined to give up just two hits and one run over 4.1 innings. Luke Tucker earned his sixth save two strikeouts in a scoreless ninth.
First baseman Chad Flack led the Tar Heels with a 2-for-4 effort and three RBI. He hit his third home run of the season in the second and added an RBI single in the sixth. Third baseman Reid Fronk also had two hits for Carolina, and shortstop Josh Horton singled in the first to match his season-best 12-game hitting streak. UNC had eight hits on the afternoon but none came after the sixth. The Tar Heels left the bases loaded in the first and fifth innings and stranded two runners in scoring position in the sixth.
Jonathan Hovis (5-2) took the loss for the Tar Heels after giving up Thomas' go-ahead double in the seventh. He allowed one run on two hits over two innings. UNC starter Daniel Bard did not get out of fourth for the second straight start. Over 3.2 innings, he allowed four runs (three earned) on three hits, two walks and three hit batters. He struck out five.
Florida State starter Barrett Browning went 4.2 innings, allowing four runs on six hits and two walks.
Carolina scored first for the third straight day as Fronk singled and came around to score when right fielder Seth Williams reached on an RBI fielder's choice in the bottom of the first.
After FSU tied the score in the top of the second on a run-scoring single by left fielder Ryan Strauss, Flack connected on the first pitch he saw from Browning in the bottom of the inning for his third home run of the season, a two-run shot to left. Fronk came through with his second single in as many innings to set up Flack's go-ahead homer.
The lead was short-lived, however, as the Seminoles went ahead 4-3 in the third. Bard walked right fielder Jack Rye and hit third baseman Ryne Malone before Thomas drove them both in with a triple to right center. UNC second baseman Garrett Gore's relay throw to third was wild, allowing Thomas to score the third run of the inning.
Beginning in the bottom of the fifth, Carolina and Florida State traded runs for the next four halves of an inning with the Tar Heels tying it up twice only to seen the Seminoles answer in their next at-bat. After trailing 4-3 since the top of the third, UNC tied it in the fifth when designated hitter Tim Federowicz was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded by Seminole reliever Brian Chambers. But Carolina was unable to go in front as center fielder Matt Spencer struck out looking to end the inning.
FSU came right back in the top of the sixth to take a 5-4 lead on a double by catcher Danny Diaz and an RBI single to center by center fielder Shane Robinson, but the Tar Heels tied it again in the bottom of the frame. Catcher Benji Johnson singled on a bad hop over Thomas at second and came around to score on a single to center by Flack. But for the second straight inning, the Tar Heels were unable to take the lead as Williams struck out looking with runners on second and third.
The Noles went ahead for good in the seventh when Thomas' double to right center off Hovis drove in Malone, who started the rally with a one-out double of his own.
The Tar Heels also had a runner at second with just one out in the eighth, but pinch hitter Mike Cavasinni was picked off trying to steal third to end the threat.
Carolina is back in action with a pair of midweek games at Boshamer Stadium as Elon and Davidson visit Tuesday and Wednesday, respectively. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m. both days.
