University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Seton Hall
No. 1 Tar Heels Take Opener From Seton Hall, 5-1
February 27, 2009 | Baseball
Feb. 27, 2009
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - All-America right-hander Alex White worked 6 1/3 strong innings, and five different Tar Heels drove in a run to pace No. 1 North Carolina past Seton Hall, 5-1, Friday in the series opener at Bryson Field at Boshamer Stadium. With the threat of inclement weather for the rest of the weekend, the teams will play a second game beginning at approximately 5:46 p.m.
White (2-0) earned his second career win over the Pirates (2-2) by allowing just one run on four hits and a walk. He fanned five before left-hander Brian Moran came on for 1 2/3 shutout innings of relief. Nate Striz worked the ninth as the Tar Heels (5-1) combined on a five hitter.
All-America Dustin Ackley went 2-for-3, and Garrett Gore belted a solo home run to lead UNC at the plate. With the two hits, Ackley moved into 10th by himself on Carolina's career hit list with 247 base hits in 147 games.
Seton Hall righty Sean Black (1-1) went 4 2/3 and allowed two runs on four hits and five walks, while striking out four.
In the Carolina half of the second, Gore's first home run in nearly a year - a solo shot to straightaway center off Black - put the Tar Heels on the board. After a walk to Ben Bunting, Ryan Graepel laced an RBI double down the left field line to double the lead.
The Pirates came right back in the top of the third with a run without the benefit of a base hit. Chris Fontenelli walked, reached third on a sacrifice bunt and a wild pitch and scored on Ed Brown's RBI groundout for Seton Hall's first run.
After the Tar Heels struggled to come up with a clutch hit in the middle innings, Mike Cavasinni delivered a two-out RBI single to boost the UNC lead to 3-1 in the sixth. Graepel drew a two-out walk, was balked to second and crossed the plate on a single to left center from Cavasinni.
Three straight singles to open the seventh led to Seager driving in Levi Michael on a base hit to right for the Tar Heels. A walk to Gore then loaded the bases for Fleury, who lofted a fly ball to left to score Ackley for the 5-1 final margin.
