University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Maine
Tar Heels Rally Past Maine, 15-7, In NCAA Opener
June 2, 2006 | Baseball
June 2, 2006
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CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - Junior Jay Cox homered and drove in a career-best five runs as top-seeded North Carolina rallied past No. 4 seed Maine, 15-7, Friday in NCAA Chapel Hill Regional play at Boshamer Stadium. The Tar Heels, who equaled a school record for postseason runs scored, will meet Winthrop at 5 p.m. Saturday, while the Black Bears will face UNC Wilmington in an elimination game at 1 p.m. tomorrow.
After allowing a season-high three home runs, Carolina (46-13) found itself down 6-4 heading into the bottom of the sixth before scoring 10 runs over the next two frames to pull away from Maine (35-21-1). Following a three-run home run in the third, Cox started the four-run sixth for the Tar Heels with an infield single and tacked on a two-run double in the seventh. The Smithfield, N.C., native also matched a career-high with four runs scored and finished a triple short of the cycle.
In addition to Cox's efforts, Mike Cavasinni, Tim Federowicz, Chad Flack and Kyle Shelton, who scored two runs and drove in two more off the bench, each chipped in with multi-hit games. Flack hit safely for the ninth straight game, while Cavasinni extended his career-best hit streak to five games.
The Tar Heels, who matched a record for postseason runs set in 1948 and equaled in '78, posted their highest offensive output this season since a 23-7 victory over Davidson April 5. The win was also the 46th of the season for UNC, tying the 2000 squad for the second most in school history.
Righty Matt Danford (6-1) picked up the victory with 1.2 innings of relief. Jonathan Hovis and Tyler Trice combined to allow just one run over the final three innings. Carolina starter Robert Woodard worked just 4.1 innings and allowed four runs on seven hits and two walks. He struck out four.
Maine starter Mike Powers (3-3) gave up seven runs (six earned) on six hits and four walks over 5.1 innings. Kevin McAvoy hit two home runs and tallied four RBI to lead the Black Bears at the plate. Maine outhit UNC, 13-11, on the night.
The Tar Heels manufactured a run in the second to take an early lead on a Seth Williams sacrifice fly. Cox drew a one-out walk and moved to third on a hit-and-run single through the right side by Federowicz before Williams flied out to deep center to drive in his 20th run of the season.
After the Black Bears tied the game in the top of the third on an RBI double by Curt Smith, McAvoy followed with a three-run homer to right center for a 4-1 Maine lead. Carolina came right back in the bottom of the inning to tie the game on the homer to right center by Cox. Josh Horton drew a two-out walk and Flack followed with a single before Cox sent a 2-1 offering from Powers out for his 10th long ball of the year.
Maine threatened again in the fifth, putting two on against Woodard before Danford came on to induce an inning-ending double play to keep the game tied at four. However, the Black Bears led off the sixth with back-to-back solo home runs off Danford by McAvoy and Mark Ostrander to take a 6-4 lead.
A big throwing error by Maine second baseman Danny Menendez capped a four-run sixth for the Tar Heels as they took their first lead since the third at 8-6. After loading the bases on singles by Cox and Federowicz and a hit batter, UNC got a pinch-hit single by Shelton to pull within one. Benji Johnson tied the game on an RBI groundout before Cavasinni reached on Menendez's error, which allowed two runs to score.
In the seventh, the Tar Heels sent 11 men to the plate and scored seven times to put the game away. Cox's two-run double was the big blow, but Flack, Cavasinni and Shelton each added RBI singles for UNC.
