University of North Carolina Athletics
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Maryland
No. 1 Carolina Completes Sweep Of Maryland, 4-2
April 26, 2009 | Baseball
April 26, 2009
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - Mark Fleury and Levi Michael hit late-inning home runs, and No. 1 North Carolina's bullpen delivered eight strong innings of relief in a 4-2 win over Maryland Sunday to close out a three-game sweep at Boshamer Stadium. The Tar Heels (35-11, 16-7 ACC) have won six straight in conference play and eight of nine overall heading into an eight-day break for final exams.
Sunday's win was the 200th for Carolina's three-man senior class of Garrett Gore, Mike McKee and Adam Warren, who were honored in pregame Senior Day festivities.
Michael, who had six hits over the final two games of the series, was 2-for-4 with three RBI on a run-scoring double in the fifth and a two-run go-ahead home run in the seventh. Fleury went 2-for-4 with a double in the fourth and a game-tying solo homer in the sixth for his third straight multi-hit game and fourth this week.
UNC left-hander Brian Moran (4-1) gave up one run on three hits over 2 2/3 innings to earn the win out of the pen. Nate Striz worked the final two innings and struck out two for his first save this season.
With starter Matt Harvey out in the second due to back spasms, Colin Bates was thrust into early duty for the Tar Heels and responded with his second 3 1/3-inning outing this week. He scattered four hits and a walk and struck out two before Moran came on to strand two in the fifth.
Ian Schwalenberg (2-4) allowed two runs on Michael's homer to take the loss. Maryland starter Brett Harman pitched well, limiting the Tar Heels to just two runs on four hits and three walks over six innings. Jensen Pupa and Dan Benick had two hits each for the Terps (20-24, 6-18 ACC).
Maryland took a 1-0 lead in the second on an RBI single by Alfredo Rodriguez. Gerry Spessard and Benick singled to open the inning and end the day for Harvey, who left without retiring a batter in the second. The Tar Heels picked Spessard off third, but Benick took second on the play and scored when Rodriguez singled to right off Bates for a 1-0 lead.
After Fleury doubled in the fourth for the first hit of the day off Harman, Carolina finally put a rally together in the fifth to tie the score. Brett Thomas led off with a single, took second on a wild pitch and scored when Michael scorched a double past first base. With runners on second and third and just one out, Harman bounced back to retire All-Americas Dustin Ackley and Kyle Seager, as the Tar Heels missed a chance to grab their first lead.
The Terps retook the lead in the sixth on Pupa's RBI single, but Fleury belted the first pitch he down the right field line to tie the game once again with his second home run of the series.
Michael untied things in the seventh when he drilled his 11th home run and first since April 3 to right off Schwalenberg. Mike Cavasinni singled to lead off the inning, took second on a groundout and scored when Michael took the 1-0 pitch deep.
By virtue of their sweep and a series loss by Georgia Tech at Clemson, the Tar Heels are currently in first place in the ACC's Coastal Division. At 16-7, Carolina owns a .696 winning percentage, while the Yellow Jackets own a .659 mark at 14-7-1.
North Carolina will now break for final exams, and the Tar Heels will not return to the field until Tuesday, May 5 against Elon at Boshamer Stadium. Carolina will also host Longwood Thursday, May 7 before returning to conference play Friday, May 8 at NC State.
