University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Virginia Tech
Federowicz Slugs No. 3 North Carolina Past Hokies, 11-1
March 14, 2008 | Baseball
March 14, 2008
CARY, N.C. - Junior Tim Federowicz drove in a career-high six runs and also pitched 1 1/3 scoreless innings in relief to lead No. 3 North Carolina past Virginia Tech, 11-1, Friday in the opening game of an Atlantic Coast Conference series at Cary's USA Baseball National Training Complex. The Tar Heels (12-3, 3-1 ACC) also got six strong innings from starter Adam Warren, who picked up his third victory.
Federowicz, who recorded his first three-hit game of the season, drove in five straight runs for Carolina. After a first-inning sacrifice fly, the Apex native followed with a two-run single in the third and a two-run double in the seventh. Following his shutout stint on the mound, Federowicz returned to designated hitter spot and closed the scoring for UNC with an RBI double in the five-run eighth inning.
Warren (3-0) allowed just one unearned run and cruised through the Hokie lineup until the sixth, facing just one over the minimum through 5 1/3 innings. He struck out three, allowed three hits and three walks and helped his own cause with a pair of pickoffs at first base. Following the 1 1/3 innings from Federowicz, who struck out one and allowed two hits, sophomore lefty Brian Moran went two-thirds of an inning, and freshman Nate Striz closed with a scoreless ninth.
In addition to Federowicz's showing at the plate, the Tar Heels also got a 3-for-5 effort from right fielder Tim Fedroff, who picked up his seventh straight multi-hit game and belted his team-best fifth home run in the eighth. First baseman Dustin Ackley, left fielder Ben Bunting and catcher Mark Fleury added two hits apiece, and Bunting scored four runs and added an RBI.
Ackley (19 games), second baseman Kyle Seager (11 games), Fedroff (nine games), Fleury (seven games) and center fielder Seth Williams (seven games) each extended hitting streaks for the Tar Heels, who had 15 hits for their seventh straight game with a double-digit hit total.
Virginia Tech right-hander Josh Wymer (2-2) scattered 10 hits over six-plus innings, allowed four runs and did not walk a batter. Left fielder Austin Wates and catcher Anthony Sosnoskie each had two hits for the Hokies (7-9, 0-4 ACC).
The Tar Heels jumped on Virginia Tech early with two runs in the first. Fedroff led off the inning with a double to right center and came into score when Bunting immediately followed with a double down the right field line. After an Ackley groundout moved Bunting to third, Federowicz lofted a sacrifice fly to deep right center to score Bunting.
Federowicz delivered again in the third as Carolina stretched its lead to four runs. Bunting singled through the right side and moved to third on a double just inside the first base bag by Ackley to put two in scoring position. Federowicz followed with a single up the middle to clear the bases and push the advantage to 4-0.
The Hokies took advantage of a UNC error and a pair of walks by Warren to get on the board in the sixth. Second baseman Matt Hacker reached on a fielding error by Garrett Gore, and a pair of walks loaded the bases for Sosnoskie, who legged out an infield single to the right side to drive in the first run of the day for Virginia Tech. Ackley then made a leaping snag of a liner off the bat of right fielder Klint Reed to end the inning and leave bases loaded.
Federowicz added some insurance in the seventh with his fourth and fifth RBI of the afternoon. After reliever Justin Wright put two on with a two-out hit batter and a walk, Federowicz doubled down the right field line off reliever Rhett Ballard to score both runners and push the UNC lead to 6-1.
The Tar Heels put the game away with five runs in the eighth for the 10-run final margin. Williams reached on infield single to lead off the inning and eventually scored from third on an RBI groundout from Gore. Fedroff followed with a two-out homer to right center, and after a walk to Bunting, Ackley and Federowicz came through with back-to-back doubles to drive in the final two runs of the night for the Tar Heels.
The series continues at 1 p.m. Saturday and concludes at 1:30 p.m. Sunday. A webcast of both games will be available live and on-demand through ACC Select.
