University of North Carolina Athletics
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Tar Heels' Rally Falls Short As USC Evens Series
June 10, 2007 | Baseball
June 10, 2007
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - In a game that started Saturday night and concluded nearly 20 hours after it started, South Carolina held off a late rally by No. 3 national seed North Carolina to take an 8-6 victory Sunday at Boshamer Stadium. The Tar Heels (52-13) and Gamecocks (46-19) will play a decisive game three at 7 p.m. on ESPN2, with the winner advancing to the College World Series in Omaha, Neb.
Before the game was halted by lightning and rain in the middle of the seventh Saturday, USC's Arik Hempy (7-3) allowed five runs on five hits over 6 2/3 innings to pick up the win. Jeff Jeffords went the final two innings Sunday for his sixth save.
South Carolina's Justin Smoak went 2-for-3 with a solo home run and two RBI, while designated hitter Phil Disher added a key two-run double in the fourth.
The Gamecocks took an 8-2 lead in the fourth, but the Tar Heels scored four unanswered runs to trim the lead to just two in the eighth. They left the tying runs in scoring position and went in order against Jeffords in the ninth.
Tim Federowicz was 3-for-5 with two RBI to lead the Tar Heels at the plate. He was the only Carolina player with more than one hit in the game, as UNC struck out a season-high 10 times.
UNC starter Alex White fell to 6-5 after allowing six runs on five hits over 3 1/3 innings.
Right-hander Luke Putkonen will start tonight for the Tar Heels, while righty Mike Cisco will take the mound for the Gamecocks.
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