University of North Carolina Athletics
No. 2 Tar Heels Open Big Week With Charlotte Tuesday
April 9, 2007 | Baseball
April 9, 2007
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - After a weekend of batting the elements and the Eagles at Boston College, second-ranked North Carolina returns to Boshamer Stadium for four games this week. After opening the week at home Tuesday against No. 25 Charlotte at 6 p.m., the Tar Heels (29-5) travel to Elon Wednesday before hosting Duke for a three-game set this weekend.
Carolina went 4-0 last week and has won eight of nine and 12 of 14 since losing its lone weekend series to Virginia. Red-hot Dustin Ackley and Tim Federowicz continue to pace the Tar Heel offense, which hit .397 last week. Ackley extended his UNC rookie record hitting streak to 26 games over the weekend, while Federowicz has hit in 14 straight games. Both Ackley (.481) and Federowicz (.381) rank among the top eight hitters in the ACC. The No. 3 and No. 4 hitters in Carolina's usual lineup, Ackley (46) and Federowicz (38), also rank among the top six in the league in RBI.
On the mound Tuesday, the Tar Heels will turn to sophomore right-hander Luke Putkonen, who missed his scheduled start last Sunday due to illness. He is 5-1 with a 3.23 ERA over 39 innings this season. Putkonen, who allowed four runs in eight innings over two starts against the 49ers in 2006, has made seven weekend starts this season and has 29 strikeouts to just 11 walks. He is holding the opposition to a .237 average. Wednesday's starter has not been determined.
At 26-5 and 8-1 in league action, Charlotte is the top team in the Atlantic 10 and is ranked 25th by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association. Carolina leads the all-time series with the 49ers, 25-5-1, won both games a year ago and is 8-0 versus Charlotte under Mike Fox. The 49ers will start lefty Kyle Pfirrman Tuesday. He is 3-1 with a 4.91 ERA over 12 relief appearances on the season. Charlotte is led at the plate by Kris Rochelle (.438-3-29) and Brad McElroy (.413-6-39).
Wednesday, the Tar Heels will play their first game at Elon since 1933. Carolina posted a 5-1 win over the Phoenix March 13 and owns a 23-7 lead in the all-time series. Elon (20-15) has won six of its last seven and is paced by Chris Dove (.357-1-14) and Chris Vasami (.352-3-34). The Phoenix has not named a starter yet for Wednesday's game.
The Tar Heels will close the week in ACC action with a three-game series against Duke at Boshamer Stadium.
