University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Kent State
White, No. 2 Carolina Shut Down Kent State, 8-1
February 29, 2008 | Baseball
Feb. 29, 2008
ROCK HILL, S.C. - Sophomore right-hander Alex White went six strong innings, and second baseman Kyle Seager drove in a career-best three runs for the second straight day in No. 2 North Carolina's 8-1 win over Kent State Friday at the Coca-Cola Classic at The Winthrop Ballpark. The Tar Heels (5-1) scored seven runs over the first two innings and have outscored the opposition, 14-2, over the last two days.
White (2-0) did not allow an earned run for his second straight start and limited the Golden Flashes (1-4) to just four hits and one walk. He fanned six for the second consecutive outing and has 12 strikeouts to just three walks on the season. Freshmen Patrick Johnson and Logan Munson then combined for 2 1/3 scoreless innings before senior Rob Wooten got the final two outs in the ninth. After Friday's effort, the UNC pitching staff has allowed just two earned runs over its last three games.
Seager went 2-for-5 with a two-run single in the first and an RBI double in the second to jump-start the Carolina offense. First baseman Dustin Ackley went 2-for-3 with an RBI to extend his hitting streak to 10 games dating to last season, and shortstop Garrett Gore went 1-for-3 and matched a career high with three runs scored. Seager already has a trio of three-RBI games on the season and is second in the Atlantic Coast Conference with 10 RBI.
Baseball America's No. 35 college prospect for this June's draft, Kent State starter Chris Carpenter (0-1) allowed eight runs - seven earned - on seven hits and two walks over four innings. He struck out five before giving way to Kyle Hallock, who kept Carolina off the board the rest of the way. The left-hander allowed just two hits and struck out five over five innings.
The Tar Heels took advantage of three hit batters and a walk in the first by Carpenter to grab an early 4-0 lead. After driving in three runs Thursday, Seager struck again with a two-run single through the right side to plate Carolina's first runs. Left fielder Ben Bunting followed two batters later with a two-run infield single that scored Chad Flack, who was hit by a pitch, and Seager, who alertly scored from second on the play.
Carolina added three more runs in the second to push its lead to 7-0. Gore singled, stole second and then moved to third on an errant throw by Kent catcher Cory Hindel. Ackley followed with a sacrifice fly to left for the first run. After an infield single by Flack, Seager doubled in the right field gap to drive in his third run of the day and his sixth of the weekend. Designated hitter Tim Federowicz added a single to right to plate Seager for the Tar Heels' seventh run of the afternoon.
After Kent State got on the board with an unearned run in the third, Carolina followed with an unearned run of its own to regain the seven-run lead in the top of the fourth. Gore drew a leadoff walk and, after an infield single by Ackley, the duo executed a double steal but the throw to third from Hindel was wild and allowed Gore to cross the plate with the final run of the game.
The Tar Heels close out round-robin play against St. John's at 4:30 p.m. Saturday followed by either the championship or consolation game Sunday.
