University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Coastal Carolina
Top-Ranked Tar Heels Clip No. 22 Coastal Carolina, 4-3
February 28, 2007 | Baseball
Feb. 28, 2007
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - Left fielder Reid Fronk was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded in the bottom of the 10th inning to lift No. 1 North Carolina to a 4-3 win over No. 22 Coastal Carolina Wednesday at Boshamer Stadium. Sophomore Tim Federowicz earned the win in relief and started the game-winning rally with a single in the 10th for the Tar Heels, who have started 9-0 for the second time in the last three seasons.
After setting down the Chanticleers (9-2) in order in the top of the 10th, Federowicz (1-0) singled off Coastal third baseman Derek Martin with one out in the bottom of the inning. Kyle Shelton and Benji Johnson followed with singles to load the bases, and after a strikeout of Drew Poulk, CCU's Travis Risser hit Fronk to drive in pinch runner Matt McNichol with the winning run. Risser (1-1) took the loss for Coastal after allowing one run on four hits over 1 2/3 innings.
Nine different Tar Heels each had one hit on the day, and freshman Dustin Ackley had two RBI to account for half of UNC's runs, while first baseman Chris Raber led the Chanticleers' offense with a 3-for-4 effort and two RBI. Raber and Carolina right fielder Tim Fedroff each homered in the game.
Carolina held a 3-2 lead heading into the ninth, but Coastal tied the game against UNC closer Andrew Carignan on a double to right center by Raber. The Chanticleers went on to load the bases, but the Tar Heels managed to turn their second key double play on the day to end the inning and keep the score tied at three. Carolina loaded the bases in bottom of the inning, with the help of a single by Mike Cavasinni in his first at-bat of the season, but could not push across the go-ahead run.
Federowicz then moved from catcher to the mound and set down the Chants 1-2-3 in the top of the 10th. The Apex native, who is now 1-0 with one save on the mound, then extended his current hitting streak to four games to start what proved to be the winning rally.
Coastal got on the board in the second on an RBI single to left by second baseman Adam Vrable, before the Tar Heels came back to tie the game on an RBI fielder's choice from Ackley in the third.
Raber put Coastal back in front with a solo homer to right center in the fifth off Matt Danford, but Carolina took its first lead in the bottom of the inning. Fedroff led off the frame with his second solo home run of the season over the trees beyond the right field wall. Poulk doubled two batters later and came around to score on a single to center by Ackley.
Tar Heel relievers Danford, Matt Cox and Rob Wooten, who worked 1 2/3 scoreless innings, kept Coastal off the board until it tied the game in the ninth.
Neither starter figured into the decision, as Mike Facchinei allowed one run on four hits and three walks over 3 1/3, and David Anderson gave up three runs on four hits and three walks in five innings.
The Tar Heels are back in action at home this weekend against Penn State. A webcast of Friday's 3 p.m. start will be available on ACC Select. Saturday and Sunday's games will start at 1 p.m.
