University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Seton Hall
Freshmen Lead No. 2 Tar Heels Past Seton Hall
February 17, 2007 | Baseball
Feb. 17, 2007
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - Second-ranked North Carolina's highly-touted freshmen played a key role in Saturday's 3-2 win over Seton Hall at Boshamer Stadium, as right-hander Alex White tossed six shutout innings in his collegiate debut, and second baseman Kyle Seager went 2-for-3 with what proved to be the game-winning RBI. Sophomore Tim Federowicz also had two hits and picked up his first career save in relief for the Tar Heels (2-0).
White (1-0) faced just five over the minimum in his six innings, as he allowed just four hits and two walks and erased the first two singles he gave up with pick offs at first. The Greenville product also struck out five and pitched out of jams in the fifth and sixth innings to preserve the shutout.
White had two on with one out in the fifth but struck out the next two batters to end the threat and also induced a key ground out to retire the side with two on in the sixth.
After being held in check by Seton Hall lefty Corey Young through five, the Tar Heels scratched out three runs in the bottom of the sixth. Back-to-back singles by Seth Williams and Josh Horton and a walk to Reid Fronk loaded the bases before Federowicz drove in the go-ahead run with a single through the left side. One out later, Seager singled up the middle for his second hit of the day and a three-run cushion.
Seton Hall (0-2) threatened in the seventh against reliever Matt Danford, who allowed a single and a walk to the first two batters he faced. But lefty Rob Catapano and right-hander Andrew Carignan came on to get the final two outs of the inning and strand runners at second and third.
Carolina carried that three-run lead into the ninth when Federowicz came on for his first pitching appearance as a Tar Heel. He put two runners on before Seton Hall's Mike Young blooped a two-out double into shallow center field to cut the lead to just one and snap the Tar Heels' 17-inning scoreless streak to open the season. Federowicz then got Matt Smedberg to ground to short to end the game.
Young (0-1) tossed five shutout innings before allowing all three runs in the sixth. He gave up six hits and three walks and had two double plays turned behind him to help keep UNC off the scoreboard until the sixth. Relievers Tim Dexter and Luis Fernandez combined for three shutout innings for the Pirates.
Right fielder Greg Miller led SHU with two hits on the day.
The Tar Heels will go for their fifth straight three-game sweep of Seton Hall Sunday with sophomore right-hander Luke Putkonen set to take the mound for the 1:30 p.m. start.
