University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Western Carolina
Tar Heels Advance To Super Regional
June 4, 2007 | Baseball
June 4, 2007
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By JOEDY McCREARY
AP Sports Writer
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) - Josh Horton's two-run single with two outs in the ninth gave North Carolina its second straight come-from-behind victory, a 6-5 win over Western Carolina on Monday that sent the Tar Heels on to the next round of the NCAA Tournament.
The Tar Heels (51-12) trailed 5-4 in the ninth when Western Carolina pulled closer Greg Holland after he put two men on with a pair of walks. Horton greeted replacement Chris Masters with a single to the gap in right-center that scored Matt Cavasinni and Dustin Ackley.
North Carolina closer Andrew Carignan worked the ninth to earn his 14th save for North Carolina, which advances to next weekend's best-of-three super regional series against the Columbia, S.C., Regional champion, most likely in Chapel Hill.
The Tar Heels' victory came two days after North Carolina rallied for three runs in the ninth inning of an 11-10 victory over East Carolina. Pitcher Rob Wooten broke a tooth while celebrating the victory over the Pirates but got the win Monday, wearing a protective mouthpiece as he worked 3 1-3 innings in relief of starter Luke Putkonen to improve to 5-1 on the year.
Blake Murphy homered in the fifth and Nick Liles had a two-run double to highlight a four-run fourth inning for Western Carolina (42-20).
Holland (4-5) allowed two runs in two innings in his second loss of the regional for the Catamounts, who haven't beaten North Carolina since 1977.
Western Carolina reliever Tyler Sexton gave way to Holland in the seventh after loading the bases on two hits and a walk. Tim Federowicz singled through the left side off the closer to make it 5-4.
Western Carolina took a 4-2 lead in the fourth, keyed by Liles' two-run bases-loaded double. The hit came one batter after the Tar Heels' Chad Flack, who appeared to be thinking double play, was charged with an error for dropping the ball just before tagging third base.
North Carolina closed to 4-3 on Dustin Ackley's sacrifice fly in the fifth, but Murphy restored the Catamounts' two-run lead by leading off the bottom of the inning with a drive off Putkonen that cleared the close fence in right-center.
