University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Seton Hall
No. 2 Carolina Closes Out Sweep Of Seton Hall
February 18, 2007 | Baseball
Feb. 18, 2007
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - Preseason All-America Chad Flack had a pair of two-run base hits in a nine-run outburst over the third and fourth innings to lead No. 2 North Carolina to a 13-2 win over Seton Hall Sunday in the series finale at Boshamer Stadium. On the mound, sophomore right-hander Luke Putkonen allowed just two hits over five shutout innings as the Tar Heels (3-0) swept their fifth straight series from the Pirates (0-3).
Flack, who went 2-for-4 with a two-run double in the third and a two-run single in the fourth, was one of eight Tar Heels to drive in a run Sunday in a game that saw Mike Fox use 23 players, including eight freshmen. Rookie Dustin Ackley continued his hot start with a 3-for-5 effort that included two doubles and three runs scored. The Walnut Cove, N.C., product went 6-for-12 in the series with five doubles.
In addition to Ackley, freshman Kyle Seager had his second straight two-hit game, and classmate Drew Poulk hit his second solo home run of the weekend in the third inning.
Junior All-America Josh Horton and sophomore Garrett Gore each added a pair of singles, and junior Reid Fronk matched a career high with four runs scored for the Tar Heels, who outscored the Pirates 27-4 in the series.
Putkonen (1-0) faced just 17 batters over his five innings, struck out two and did not issue a walk to run his career record to 7-0. Carolina's starting pitchers combined to allow just seven base hits and two walks over 18 2/3 shutout innings on the weekend.
Five relievers combined to allow just two runs and three hits over the final four innings for the Tar Heels. Adam Warren, Matt Cox, Tyler Trice and Brian Farrell each posted scoreless relief outings.
For Seton Hall, Dan McDonald had three of the Pirates' five hits and also tossed 1 2/3 scoreless innings of relief to close the game. Freshman starter Sean Black (0-1) took the loss after allowing five runs on four hits over 2 1/3 innings.
After scoring one run in the first, the Tar Heels broke the game open with four in the third. Poulk led off the inning with a solo home run to left. Flack later came through with a two-run double to left center, and designated hitter Tim Federowicz followed with a sacrifice fly for a five-run cushion for UNC.
In the fourth, the Tar Heels sent 11 men to the plate and scored five more runs. Benji Johnson drove in the first run with a double to left center, and Flack followed an RBI single by Ackley with his second two-run hit of the afternoon. Seager drove in the final run of the frame with a single through the right side.
After an RBI single by Horton in the fifth, back-to-back doubles by Ackley and freshman Ryan Graepel closed out the scoring for Carolina in the seventh.
The Tar Heels are back in action Wednesday at UNC Wilmington at 3 p.m.
