University of North Carolina Athletics
Carolina Baseball Monday Notebook
May 1, 2006 | Baseball
May 1, 2006
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - Top-ranked North Carolina closed the book on an outstanding April with Sunday's 7-1 win at Duke. The Tar Heels won 17 games in April for the first time since the 1989 - the last time Carolina reached the College World Series. After last month's 17-3 mark, the Tar Heels (39-8, 18-6 ACC) now take an eight-day break for final exams and return to the field May 9 against Campbell. UNC then faces a tough Winthrop team May 10 before heading to Charlottesville to take on Virginia May 12-14.
NOTING THE WEEK OF APRIL 25-31:
• At 39-8 on the season, the Tar Heels continue to lead the nation in victories heading into their eight-day break for final exams. The 39-8 record is Carolina's best mark through 47 games in program history. The Tar Heels have won eight straight, 16 of 18 and 19 of 22. UNC went 17-3 in the month of April.
• Carolina has won a school-record 18 games in ACC play and leads the league with an 18-6 mark. The Tar Heels own a two-game lead over Virginia in the Coastal Division heading into the May 12-14 series in Charlottesville. UNC has won 10 straight games in conference play for its longest league win streak since winning 12 in a row over the 1983-84 seasons. The Tar Heels have swept back-to-back-to-back league series for just the second time since the ACC went to the three-game series format in 1990.
• The Tar Heels hit 10 home runs last week and currently leads the ACC with 57 homers on the year (Georgia Tech is second with 53). Carolina did not allow a home run last week and its pitching staff has not surrendered a homer over its last 13 games.
• Carolina pitching notched a 2.20 ERA last week and lowered its season mark to 3.16, which ranks second in the ACC. The Tar Heels have allowed more than three earned runs just once over their last 12 games.
• Sophomore Benji Johnson led the Tar Heels to an unbeaten week with team highs of four home runs and eight RBI, as well as a .471 average (8-17). With 20 total bases on the week, Johnson slugged 1.176 and notched a .550 on-base percentage to lead Carolina. After capping Wednesday's win over High Point with a pinch-hit three-run home run in the eighth inning, Johnson homered twice and matched a career high with three RBI for the second straight game in the series opener at Duke. Johnson had two more hits Saturday and followed with two hits and his fourth home run over a four-game span in the series finale Sunday. Against the Blue Devils, Johnson went 6-for-12 with three homers and five RBI. On the year, Johnson leads the Tar Heels and is tied for fifth in the ACC with 10 home runs.
• Sophomore shortstop Josh Horton led the Tar Heels with a .476 average last week and currently leads the ACC with a .403 average. He is batting 15 points higher than anyone else in the league with teammate Jay Cox second at .388. Horton went 10-for-21 last week with two doubles, two home runs and five RBI. He was 6-for-14 in the series with Duke.
• Sophomore first baseman Chad Flack drove in a team-high seven runs in the Duke series and hit .435 (10-23) over five games last week. He extended his career-best hitting streak to 13 games before going hitless Sunday. Flack had a career-high four hits Saturday, including two home runs for his second career multi-homer game. He has raised his average to .374, which ranks seventh in the ACC.
• Jay Cox, Chad Flack and Josh Horton each reached the 40-RBI mark this week giving the Tar Heels four players with 40 or more RBI. Carolina had only three players with 40 RBI a year ago. Freshman Tim Federowicz has driven in a team-best 45 runs.
• Carolina now has three of the 10 winningest pitchers in program history on its current staff as juniors Daniel Bard and Robert Woodard each picked up career victory No. 21 last weekend to move into a tie for ninth place on the Tar Heels' career win list. Classmate Andrew Miller won his 24th career game and currently sits tied for fourth. Miller also moved into fifth on the all-time strikeout list with 271.
• Junior Daniel Bard allowed one run on four hits in six innings against Duke Sunday and has given up just one earned run over his last three starts - a span of 22 innings. Bard has lowered his ERA to 3.61, which ranks as the lowest of his three-year career. He also earned a win in three straight starts for the first time this season.
• Senior Jonathan Hovis made had three scoreless outings last week to move into seventh place on Carolina's career list with 93 appearances. He surpassed former teammate Michael Gross and will move into a sixth-place tie with Scott Senatore with his next appearance. Hovis is 6-2 this season with a career-low 1.36 ERA in 46.1 innings. In conference action, Hovis is second in the ACC with a 2.16 ERA.
• Andrew Carignan picked up his 11th save of the season against VCU Tuesday to move into fourth on the Tar Heels' single-season list. He can move into a tie for second with Derrick DePriest and Thad Crismon with just one more. Crismon holds the school record with 18. Carignan has allowed just one earned run in 23.2 innings for a 0.38 ERA.
• Freshman infielder Garrett Gore made three starts last week and went 3-for-10 at the plate with one RBI. He also played flawless defense in 20 chances at second and third base. Gore is batting an even .300 (9-30) on the season.
