University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Richmond
No. 2 Carolina Stops Spiders, 12-8
April 8, 2009 | Baseball
April 8, 2009
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - Ryan Graepel and Kyle Seager drove in three runs apiece to lift No. 2 North Carolina to a 12-8 win over Richmond Wednesday at Boshamer Stadium. Right-hander Jimmy Messer kept the Spiders off the scoreboard until the sixth in his second career start for the Tar Heels (26-7).
Seager went 3-for-5 with two runs in addition to his three RBI, while Graepel and Mark Fleury, who doubled and scored twice, each had two hits on the night. Dustin Ackley added an RBI double and scored three runs, as all nine starters hit safely for Carolina.
Messer (1-0) picked up his first win with career bests of seven strikeouts and 5 1/3 innings. He held Richmond (13-13) scoreless on just two hits over the first five innings. In the sixth, Messer was charged with six runs, just three of which were earned, and finished with five hits and two walks allowed on the night.
Logan Munson, who earned the save against East Carolina Tuesday, joined Messer in establishing career highs with 2 2/3 scoreless innings and five strikeouts in relief.
Richmond starter Billy Falasco (0-2) allowed six runs on six hits and three walks over just two-plus innings. Adam McConnell had three hits, and Phil Ruzbarsky, Evan Stehle and Robby Massar each added two hits for the Spiders, who matched UNC with 13 hits on the evening.
On the heels of last night's win over No. 14 ECU, Carolina wasted little time jumping in front of the Spiders, scoring early and often. Ben Bunting doubled down the left field line to lead off the game, Garrett Gore reached on a bunt single and Ackley plated the first run with a sacrifice fly to left. Following a walk to Levi Michael, Seager cleared the bases and pushed the lead to 3-0 with a double to left center on first pitch he saw.
The Tar Heels doubled the lead in the third thanks to successive run-scoring hits by Michael, Seager and Fleury. Ackley drew a leadoff walk and scored when Michael ripped his third triple down the right field line. Seager followed with a run-scoring single through the left side to end the day for Falasco. Fleury closed the scoring with an RBI double to right center on the first pitch from reliever Billy Barber to boost the lead to 6-0.
Carolina sent 10 men to the plate and stretched the advantage to 10-0 in the fourth. After a hit batter, an infield single by Seager and a walk loaded the bases, Graepel opened the scoring with a two-run single through the left side off former Tar Heel Brian Farrell. Cavasinni followed with an RBI single to right center, and Bunting drew a bases-loaded walk to drive in the fourth and final run of the frame.
Ackley doubled to right center and scored on Fleury's second two-bagger of the night - a liner to left center - for the first of two runs in the fifth. Graepel followed with a single to left to drive in his third run and push the lead to 12-0.
The Spiders got on the board in the sixth and went on to cut the lead in half when Cameron Brown reached on a two-base error by Gore and scored on McConnell's single up the middle. Ruzbarsky followed two batters later with a two-run single to center, and Messer then hit Victor Croglio to send a fourth run to the plate and end his night.
Munson struck out the next batter and induced a pop up to second that Michael misplayed, allowing two unearned runs to score. The southpaw reliever then picked up a second strikeout to strand runners at the corners and hold the six-run lead.
Richmond made things interesting in the ninth when Ryan Metzroth led off with his fifth home run, and the next two batters singled against UNC reliever Greg Holt. Croglio singled home McConnell to bring the Spiders within four, but Chris Cuppia was thrown out at the plate on Massar's second single to end the game.
The Tar Heels return to conference action at No. 20 Florida State for a three-game series beginning Friday.
