University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Appalachian State
No. 3 North Carolina Blanks Appalachian State, 7-0
April 2, 2008 | Baseball
April 2, 2008
CARY, N.C. - Freshman right-hander Patrick Johnson and four relievers combined on a five-hit shutout Wednesday in No. 3 North Carolina's 7-0 victory over Appalachian State at Cary's USA Baseball National Training Complex. The Tar Heels (23-5) struck out 14 batters en route to their fourth shutout of the season.
Johnson (3-0) matched a career-high with seven Ks for the third time this season over 5 1/3 scoreless innings. The Conover, N.C., native held the Mountaineers (15-14) to just four hits but walked three. Johnson struck out the side in the fifth and fanned four straight batters at one point.
Sophomore left-hander Brian Moran came on in the sixth and fanned four of the five batters he faced to equal his career-best strikeout effort for the fourth time. Logan Munson, Tyler Trice and Ryan Leach combined to work the final two shutout innings.
With the 14 strikeouts Wednesday, the Tar Heels have punched out 30 batters in the last two nights and are averaging more than 10 Ks per game to rank among the national leaders. UNC also lowered its staff ERA to an ACC-best 2.21.
Appalachian State starter Nick Terry (3-2) went two innings and took the loss after allowing three runs, just one of which was earned, on three hits and two walks.
A quartet of Tar Heels had two-hit nights, including third baseman Chad Flack, who went 2-for-5 to move into a tie for second place on Carolina's career hit list. Flack, who has hit in 11 straight games, needs just more four base hits to eclipse Chad Prosser's school record of 291.
Second baseman Kyle Seager went 2-for-3 with an RBI to move his career-best hitting streak to 24 games. Right fielder Tim Fedroff, who opened the scoring with a two-run double in the second, and shortstop Garrett Gore chipped in with two hits apiece.
Carolina took advantage of the third Mountaineer error to grab a 3-0 lead in the second. A single by Gore and a two-base throwing error by ASU third baseman Isaac Harrow put runners in scoring position for Fedroff, who hit a chopping double over first base to score two. He took second on a Kyle Shelton groundout and then scored from third when Seager legged out an infield RBI single to shortstop.
The Tar Heels opened the fifth with three straight singles en route to three runs against the ASU bullpen. Seager singled, took second on a balk and scored the first run on a single up the middle by Flack. A Dustin Ackley single put runners on the corners, and center fielder Seth Williams delivered a sacrifice fly to center to drive in Flack with the second run of the inning. Catcher Tim Federowicz followed two batters later with an RBI single that dropped between two Mountaineers in right field for a six-run UNC lead.
Carolina added their seventh and final run in the sixth when Shelton walked, stole second and scored from third on a passed ball.
The Tar Heels are back in action this weekend for a three-game series with No. 14 Georgia Tech beginning Friday in Cary.
