University of North Carolina Athletics
Diamond Heels Wrap Up Fall World Series With Tie
October 20, 2009 | Baseball
Oct. 20, 2009
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - Seth Baldwin and Tarron Robinson slugged two-run home runs, and right-handers Jimmy Messer and Colin Bates turned in sharp outings on the mound in a 4-4 tie Tuesday in the finale of North Carolina's intra-squad baseball Fall World Series. The White team claimed the FWS title with a record of 4-1-1 in six open scrimmages.
Baldwin, who connected on a first-inning homer, went 2-for-5 with two RBI and two runs. Robinson was 2-for-4 and gave the White team a late-inning lead with a two-run shot in the seventh inning. Ryan Graepel and Brett Knief added two base hits each for the Blue squad.
Messer and Bates each worked six strong innings but neither figured into the scoring due to some late-inning fireworks. Messer tossed six shutout frames and fanned seven batters for the Blue squad. He held White to just four hits and two walks before giving way to Ryan Leach in the seventh. Over six innings for White, Bates struck out two and allowed three runs on five hits and two walks.
The Blue squad grabbed a 2-0 lead in the first when Graepel delivered a two-out single, and Baldwin followed with a two-run shot to right center for the first runs of the afternoon.
With both starters in a groove, Baldwin's blast was the lone scoring until Blue struck again in the sixth. Baldwin jump-started the rally with a single to right center, quickly stole second and moved to third on a groundout before scoring his second run of the day on a Knief single up the middle.
With Blue holding a 3-0 lead entering the seventh, two walks and a hit batter loaded the bases for Chaz Frank, who delivered White's first run with a sacrifice fly to center. Greg Holt pulled his team within a run with an RBI single to right center before Robinson belted a two-run home run to right center to stake White to a 4-3 lead.
Blue bounced back to knot the score at four when Brett Thomas walked and eventually came around to score on a sacrifice fly by Tommy Coyle in the bottom of the eighth.
The Tar Heels' 2010 season opens at Boshamer Stadium Feb. 19 with the first of a three-game set against George Washington.
