University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Clemson
No. 4 Tar Heels Outlast Tigers To Sweep Series
April 13, 2008 | Baseball
April 13, 2008
CLEMSON, S.C. - No. 4 North Carolina broke open a one-run game with five straight two-out singles in the eighth inning to claim an 8-4 win over Clemson Sunday and its first-ever series sweep at the Tigers' Doug Kingsmore Stadium. Second baseman Kyle Seager belted the go-ahead home run in the fifth - his third in the last two days - and drove in a game-high three runs for the Tar Heels (29-7, 13-4 ACC).
Paced by three-hit efforts by Seager, first baseman Dustin Ackley and third baseman Chad Flack, who also drove in two runs, the Tar Heels pounded out 18 hits en route to the first series sweep by an opponent at Clemson since Florida State took three from the Tigers in 2002. All nine starters hit safely with six Tar Heels registering multi-hit games.
Seager was 3-for-5 with a two-run home run in the fifth and an RBI single to close the scoring in the Tar Heels' three-run eighth. The ACC's RBI leader with 48, Seager also doubled in the third to move into a tie for ninth on Carolina's single-season list with 20.
After posting five shutout innings in the game two win, Carolina's bullpen held the Tigers (18-17, 6-12 ACC) to just one run on four hits over the final eight innings Sunday.
Left-hander Rob Catapano (3-0) came on for starter Matt Harvey no one out in the second and allowed just one run on three hits over four innings to pick up his second straight victory. The Knoxville, Tenn., lefty struck out four Sunday and combined to allow just one run on four hits over 5 1/3 innings on the weekend.
Senior Tyler Trice pitched out of a bases-loaded jam in the eighth with back-to-back strikeouts and went on to retire the Tigers in order in the ninth to earn his first career save with three strikeouts over 1 2/3 innings. The Tar Heels stranded a total of 11 Clemson base runners on the day, including six over the seventh and eighth innings. Nate Striz, Brian Moran and Rob Wooten also contributed scoreless relief appearances for UNC.
Clemson lefty Ryan Hinson (2-5) allowed five runs on 11 hits, including Seager's go-ahead two-run shot, over five innings.
With three wins over the weekend, Carolina secured its first series victory over the Tigers since 2000 and its first three-game sweep since 1990. The Tar Heels also improved their road record to 11-2 on the season.
UNC took advantage of some shaky infield play by Clemson to scratch out a run in the first. Ackley reached on a throwing error by shortstop Stan Widman to leadoff the game and scored from third when Flack legged out a dribbling single that third baseman John Hinson bobbled.
The lead was short-lived as the Tigers opened with three straight hits off Harvey and tied the game on a Doug Hogan double to left. Hogan then took third on a passed ball and scored on an RBI fielder's choice by leftfielder Jeff Schaus to give Clemson its first lead of the series. Designated hitter Kyle Parker followed with a double to left center to plate Shaus and push the Clemson lead to 3-1 before Harvey left two on with a strikeout of Widman.
Carolina came right back with consecutive doubles by centerfielder Seth Williams and shortstop Garrett Gore to jump-start a two-run rally to tie the game in the second. Williams led off the inning with a double down the left field line and scored on a double to right by Gore, who later crossed the plate with the tying run on a Greg Holt sacrifice fly.
An RBI infield single by Matt Sanders regained the lead for the Tigers in the fourth, but Seager's third home run of the weekend and sixth of the season put Carolina in front for good in the fifth. Fedroff singled through the right side to lead off the inning, and two batters later Seager went opposite field off Ryan Hinson to stake the Tar Heels to a 5-4 lead.
Clemson threatened in the seventh, loading the bases on two walks and a hit batter, but Wooten came on to get designated hitter Kyle Parker to fly out to right to preserve the one-run lead.
After working out of the jam, the Tar Heels added some insurance in the eighth with five straight two-out singles off the Clemson bullpen. Ackley started the rally with a single to left, took second on a passed ball and scored on a single to left by Shelton. Fedroff followed with a single through the right side before Flack laced his third hit of the afternoon to center to plate Shelton. Seager closed the scoring with his third hit of the day to drive in Fedroff from second for an 8-4 lead.
Clemson again threatened in the eighth after a pair of walks by Wooten put two on with just one out. Trice entered and allowed a bloop single by second baseman Mike Freeman to load the bases but he bounced back to strike out Wilson Boyd and Hogan to end the inning.
The Tar Heels are back in action Tuesday at UNC Greensboro for a fourth consecutive road game. First pitch is set for 6 p.m.
