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No. 14 Miami Evens Series With No. 2 Tar Heels, 9-7
April 8, 2006 | Baseball
April 8, 2006
CORAL GABLES, Fla. - No. 14 Miami scored twice in the bottom of the seventh inning and added an insurance run in the eighth to claim a 9-7 comeback win over No. 2 North Carolina Saturday at Mark Light Field. After battling back from an early three-run hole, the Tar Heels (26-7, 8-6 ACC) lost a game they led after the sixth inning for the first time all season. The rubber game of the three-game Atlantic Coast Conference series is set for 1 p.m. Sunday.
With Miami (24-11, 9-5 ACC) trailing 7-6 heading into the bottom of the seventh, right fielder Tommy Giles tied the game with an RBI double down the right field line, took third on the throw to the plate and scored the go-ahead run on a single to center field by catcher Richard O'Brien off UNC closer Andrew Carignan (0-1). The Canes tacked on a run in the eighth as second baseman Jemile Weeks walked and scored on a sacrifice fly by first baseman Yonder Alonso.
Miami reliever Chris Perez (1-1) earned the win with five strikeouts over 2.1 scoreless innings. Carignan suffered the loss for the Tar Heels, who are now 21-1 when leading after six, after allowing his first earned run all season in the eighth.
Third baseman Reid Fronk was 2-for-2 with three walks and three runs scored, which matched a career-high for the second time this week. He has now hit safely in 10 straight games and has five consecutive multi-hit efforts. Sophomores Benji Johnson and Josh Horton each hit home runs for the Tar Heels, who now have five homers in the series. The Tar Heels left 11 runners on base, including six over the final four innings.
Giles went 4-for-4 with three RBI to lead the Canes at the plate.
Miami struck for three runs against Carolina starter Robert Woodard in the bottom of the first as third baseman Danny Valencia and Giles came through with back-to-back RBI singles and O'Brien followed with a run-scoring groundout. Center fielder John Jay was hit by a pitch and Alonso singled to put runners on the corners and start the rally.
Johnson's second homer in the series trimmed the lead to 3-1 in the top of the second. He sent the first pitch he saw from UM starter Manny Miguelez over the wall in right center to push his career-long hitting streak to six games. Four of Johnson's career-best six home runs have come in the last 13 games.
After Miami regained its three-run lead in the bottom of the second, the Tar Heels scratched out three runs in the third to knot the score at four. Fronk walked and Horton was hit by a pitch to put two on with just one out. Center fielder Seth Williams followed with a single through the left side to score Fronk and cut the lead to 4-2. A walk to left fielder Jay Cox loaded the bases, and a four-pitch free pass to designated hitter Tim Federowicz two batters later brought the Tar Heels within one. Center fielder Matt Spencer then singled through the right side to drive in Williams and tie the game.
In the fourth, Carolina grabbed its first lead of the night on Horton's second home run of the season, a two-run shot to right off UM reliever Ricky Orta. Fronk led off the inning with a single to reach base for the third time of the night before Horton came through two batters later on a 2-1 pitch.
The Canes came back within one in the bottom of the inning on an RBI single by Alonso and tied it in the fifth on a solo homer by Giles off UNC reliever Matt Danford, who relieved Woodard with two out in the fourth.
The Tar Heels took their second lead in the sixth on an RBI single by center fielder Mike Cavasinni, a defensive sub for Williams in the sixth. Fronk drew a one-out walk to start the rally, stole second and moved to third on a groundout by Flack. After an intentional walk to Horton, Cavasinni delivered the go-ahead base hit through the left side. Carolina went on to load the bases but could not add to its lead, leaving the bases full for the second time.
Woodard lasted just 3.2 innings for Carolina, surrendering a career-high nine hits and tying a career-high with five runs allowed. Miguelez allowed four runs on four hits in just 2.2 innings for UM.
The series wraps up with junior right-hander Daniel Bard set to take the mound for the Tar Heels against Miami's Scott Maine Sunday.
