University of North Carolina Athletics
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Florida State
No. 20 Noles Rally Past No. 2 Carolina, 9-8
April 12, 2009 | Baseball
April 12, 2009
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Jason Stidham's two-run single in the bottom of the ninth sent No. 20 Florida State past No. 2 North Carolina, 9-8, Sunday at Dick Howser Stadium. The Seminoles (21-11, 9-7 ACC) scored four in the eighth and two in the ninth to rebound from a five-run deficit and secure the series victory over the Tar Heels (27-9, 10-7 ACC).
After FSU crawled within a run with four in the eighth, Tyler Holt drew his fourth walk of the day to lead off the bottom of the ninth. Garrett Davis (0-1) came on in relief of Logan Munson, walked Stephen Cardullo and Stuart Tapley sacrificed both runners into scoring position. Stidham then laced his third hit of the day into right field to drive in the game-tying and game-winning runs.
Both teams finished with 12 hits of the afternoon, but Carolina pitching issued 13 walks, the most by the Tar Heels since also walking 13 in a 2002 ACC Tournament contest against Wake Forest.
All-America Kyle Seager was 3-for-5 with his first career grand slam and a double to lead Carolina. Mike Cavasinni went 2-for-4 with two runs and an RBI for his second straight multi-hit day, and Levi Michael was 2-for-5. All-America Dustin Ackley added a solo home run.
Stidham, who as 3-for-5 with two RBI, was one of four Seminoles with multiple hits.
In his first career ACC start, UNC right-hander Patrick Johnson held FSU to just one run on six hits and two walks over 4 2/3 in a predetermined staff outing. He struck out six. Five UNC relievers allowed eight runs (six earned) on six hits and 11 walks the rest of the way.
Jimmy Marshall (2-1) earned the win for Florida State with two scoreless frames in relief. Seminole starter Mike McGee allowed two runs on six hits and two walks over 4 2/3 innings. He struck out six before giving way to Geoff Parker in the fifth.
The Tar Heels loaded the bases in the fourth and scratched out a run but missed out on a chance to break the game open in the early innings. A walk to Mark Fleury and singles by Garrett Gore and Ryan Graepel loaded the bases for Cavasinni, who was hit by a 2-2 offering from McGee for a 1-0 UNC lead. McGee then struck out Tarron Robinson to leave the bases full.
With two Seminoles in scoring position in the fourth, Stidham tried to tie the game with a steal of home, but Fleury made a diving tag to end the inning and preserve the one-run lead.
Ackley extended the advantage in the fifth with a solo home run - his career-best 11th - off the scoreboard in left field. The Walnut Cove, N.C., product hammered a 3-2 pitch from McGee the other way for just his second hit of the series and a 2-0 UNC lead.
Jack Posey followed Ackley's homer with one of his own on Johnson's first pitch of the bottom of the fifth to bring FSU within a run once again. The Seminoles went on to load the bases, but right-hander Matt Harvey got Stidham to fly out to center to end the threat.
Seager joined the home run parade in the sixth with his first career grand slam. Cavasinni started the rally with his second hit of the day, Bunting delivered a two-out single and Ackley walked to load the bases for Seager, who sent an 0-1 pitch from Parker to left for his second home run of the season and a 6-1 Tar Heel lead.
After a two-out Graepel fielding error loaded the bases in the sixth, Harvey was charged with bases-loaded walks to Holt and Cardullo to trim the lead to three runs. Bryant Gaines entered with a 2-0 count on Cardullo and finished off the walk but got the Tapley to hit into a fielder's choice to leave the bases full of Seminoles for the second straight frame.
Carolina quickly answered with two of its own in the seventh to push the lead back to five at 8-3. Michael singled and scored on a pinch-hit base hit up the middle by Ryan Norton, and Cavasinni reached on a fielder's choice and scored on a two-out error by Stidham.
In the home half of the seventh, the Seminoles loaded the bases for the third straight inning against Gaines, but Nate Striz struck out the first two batters he faced and forced an inning-ending groundout to leave them loaded for the third inning in a row.
After wriggling out of the seventh-inning jam, Striz was not as fortunate in the eighth. Two walks and a Cardullo single loaded the bases for the fourth straight inning, and McGee, who remained in the game at designated hitter after exiting from the mound, laced a double just inside the third base bag to drive in three and cut the lead to just two.
Munson entered and quickly picked up out No. 2, but two batters later Sean Gilmartin doubled down the left field line to score McGee and bring FSU within a run at 8-7. Munson managed to strand runners at second and third to preserve the lead heading into the ninth.
Carolina is back in action at home Tuesday against High Point at 6 p.m. at Boshamer Stadium.
