University of North Carolina Athletics
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Miami
No. 1 Carolina Holds Off No. 11 Miami, 7-5
March 9, 2007 | Baseball
March 9, 2007
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - Right fielder Seth Williams hit a key home run in the seventh inning, and relievers Tim Federowicz and Andrew Carignan set down six straight batters over the final two frames to help No. 1 North Carolina hold on for a 7-5 win over No. 11 Miami in the Atlantic Coast Conference opener for both teams at Boshamer Stadium Friday.
The Tar Heels (13-1, 1-0 ACC) jumped out to a 6-0 lead, but the Hurricanes (10-7, 0-1 ACC) scored five unanswered to crawl within a single run heading to the bottom of the seventh. Williams then sent a 3-1 offering from UM reliever David Gutierrez over the left field wall for a two-run cushion that would be more than enough insurance for Carolina. Federowicz retired the side in order in the eighth, and Carignan went 1-2-3 in the ninth for his third save in the last seven games.
Senior right-hander Robert Woodard moved to 4-0 on the season and 27-3 in his career with the win. The Charlotte native worked five-plus innings and allowed a season-high four runs on four hits and his first three walks of the season. He struck out five en route to his first career win over the Canes. Woodard has now earned at least one win against every ACC opponent except Boston College.
Williams, Chad Flack and Dustin Ackley each had two of the Tar Heels' 11 hits on the day. Flack, who broke out of a slump with his first multi-hit game since Feb. 23, and Benji Johnson, who hit safely for the fifth straight game, each drove in a game-high two runs.
Miami starter Scott Maine (2-3) allowed six runs, only three of which were earned, on eight hits and two walks over three-plus innings. Third baseman Mark Sobolewski had two hits to lead the Hurricane offense.
A two-out error by UM second baseman Jemile Weeks opened the floodgates for the Tar Heels, who scored five two-out runs in the game, in the second. Center fielder Drew Poulk started the rally with an infield single, and Weeks' error on a grounder by second baseman Kyle Seager put runners on second and third for Johnson, who singled to right center for a 2-0 Carolina lead. Left fielder Reid Fronk and Flack followed with successive singles to score Johnson and give the Tar Heels a three-run cushion after two.
Miami nearly tied the game in the top of the third, but Williams made a diving snag on a Sobolewski liner with the bases loaded and two outs. Williams then came through with a key single in a two-out rally in the bottom of the inning. Poulk started the scoring threat once again with a two-out walk, and Williams and Seager came through with back-to-back singles to push the lead to 4-0.
Carolina added two more runs in the fourth and ended the day for Maine after just three-plus innings. Fronk drew a leadoff walk and scored on Flack's second RBI hit of the day, this one a double off the wall in left center. He later scored on a single to right by Ackley for a six-run UNC lead. Ackley has now driven in at least one run in 13 of 14 games this season.
Miami got on the board in the fifth, as shortstop Ryan Jackson led off with a double and came around to score on consecutive groundouts, and cut the lead to just two with three more runs charged to Woodard in the sixth. With runners at first and second, first baseman Yonder Alonso chased Woodard from the game with an RBI double to right center. The Canes followed with two straight run-scoring groundouts against reliever Matt Danford to score two more and trim the lead to 6-4.
The Hurricanes scored for a third straight inning to pull within one when center fielder Blake Tekotte drew a leadoff walk from lefty Rob Catapano and scored on a single to right by Sobolewski off Federowicz.
Williams quickly got that run back for the Tar Heels with the home run, his third of the season and third career homer versus Miami.
Federowicz, who faced the minimum over two innings, then got three fly ball outs in the eighth, and Carignan came on to set down the side in the ninth to earn his third career save against Miami.
The series continues at 1 p.m. Saturday and noon Sunday with Alex White and Luke Putkonen set to pitch for the Tar Heels.
