University of North Carolina Athletics
Top-Ranked Diamond Heels Host Campbell, Winthrop
May 8, 2006 | Baseball
May 8, 2006
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - Following an eight-day layoff for final exams, No. 1 North Carolina opens the final nine-game stretch of the regular season with a pair of midweek games at Boshamer Stadium. The Tar Heels (39-8) host Campbell (15-31) Tuesday and No. 25 Winthrop (32-17) Wednesday with first pitch set for 6 p.m. both evenings.
Carolina has matched its season-best winning streak of eight games and has also won 13 of its last 14 and 19 of 22 since its only series loss of the season at Georgia Tech.
Freshman right-hander Adam Warren will start Tuesday against the Camels, with redshirt freshman righty Luke Putkonen on the hill Wednesday against the Eagles. Warren (1-0) will be making his third start in 11 appearances. He owns a 5.40 ERA and has struck out 10 in 15 innings this season.
Putkonen (5-0) will make his 11th weekday start of the season against Winthrop. He has not allowed an earned run over his last two starts - a span of 10.2 innings - to lower his ERA to 3.21, which is tied for second among UNC starters. Last time out, Putkonen posted a career-best seven strikeouts over seven innings against VCU April 25. On the year, he has fanned 30 and walked 18 in 47.2 innings.
At the plate, sophomore Benji Johnson has hit four home runs over the last four games to take the team lead with 10, and classmate Josh Horton leads the Atlantic Coast Conference with a .403 average and can notch his third 10-game hitting streak of the season Tuesday.
Carolina leads its all-time series with Campbell, 31-9, but the teams have not met since a 7-6 Tar Heel win 1999. The Camels were swept in a two-game series by UNC Asheville last weekend and have dropped eight of its last 10 games.
The Tar Heels are 6-2 in eight all-time meetings with Winthrop, including a pair of wins (15-5, 13-5) in Chapel Hill a year ago. The Eagles, who swept Charleston Southern over the weekend, bring a six-game winning streak in the Wednesday's meeting. Winthrop has already defeated ACC opponents Clemson, Miami, Wake Forest and Duke this season.
Currently 30-3 at home this season, Carolina can match its school record of 32 home victories set last season with just two more wins at Boshamer Stadium.
After the pair of midweek games, the Tar Heels return to ACC action at Virginia this weekend. Game times are 7 p.m. Friday and 1 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
