University of North Carolina Athletics
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Miller Sets Strikeout Mark In Win Over Boston College
May 18, 2006 | Baseball
May 18, 2006
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - Junior left-hander Andrew Miller allowed just two hits over eight innings and fanned 11 to become North Carolina's career leader in strikeouts, as the No. 5 Tar Heels (43-11, 20-8 ACC) scored a 7-1 win over Boston College (28-23-1, 9-19 ACC) Thursday in the opening game of an Atlantic Coast Conference series at Boshamer Stadium. The victory was Carolina's 33rd at home, which also establishes a program best.
Miller (11-1) allowed one unearned run on four walks and two singles to become the Tar Heels' first 11-game winner since 1995. He struck out six through four frames and then fanned five of the final eight batters he faced, including the record-setter on his final batter of the game. Sophomore Tyler Trice worked a perfect ninth to secure Carolina's second straight two-hitter. The Tar Heels held UNC Greensboro to just two hits Tuesday.
With the 11 strikeouts, Miller now has 290 in his career, surpassing Michael Hoog's 289 from 1987-90. The Gainesville, Fla., product now has four double-digit strikeout performances this season and eight in his career. The win was the 25th of Miller's Carolina career, which ranks fourth all-time.
At the plate, designated hitter Tim Federowicz broke out of a 1-for-21 slump with four hits, including his eighth home run of the season. First baseman Chad Flack chipped in with three hits, but shortstop Josh Horton saw his 15-game hitting streak snapped.
BC starter Dan Houston kept the Tar Heels in check over five innings, allowing no runs on three hits and four walks, but reliever Ted Ratliff (5-1) came on in the sixth and was charged with three runs without recording an out to take the loss.
After falling behind on a double steal in the top of the sixth, the Tar Heels came back with three in the bottom of the inning to take a 3-1 lead. Federowicz led off with a solo homer to right center to tie the game, and a double by Seth Williams and back-to-back hit batters by Ratliff loaded the bases with no outs. Pinch-hitter Kyle Shelton singled home the go-ahead run, and Flack followed with an RBI double to plate the third run of the frame.
Carolina put the game away with four runs in the eighth off BC reliever Kevin Boggan, who also failed to retire a batter. Two walks and Flack's third base hit of the night loaded the bases for catcher Benji Johnson, who drove in a run with an infield single. Defensive replacement Garrett Gore followed with a single up the middle to drive in two more runs before Federowicz capped the inning with his fourth hit, an RBI single up the middle.
UNC remains one game in front of Virginia in the ACC's Coastal Division, as the Cavaliers scored a 4-2 win over Virginia Tech Thursday.
The three-game series between the Tar Heels and Eagles continues at 7 p.m. Friday and noon Saturday.
