University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Boston College
No. 4 Tar Heels Outlast Boston College, 16-10
May 15, 2009 | Baseball
May 15, 2009
CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. - All-America Dustin Ackley belted a key three-run home run in the eighth inning, doubled twice and matched a season high with four RBI in No. 4 North Carolina's 16-10 win over Boston College Friday at Shea Field. Fellow All-America Kyle Seager joined Ackley with his third career four-hit game as the Tar Heels (40-14, 18-10 ACC) posted their third-largest offensive output of the season.
With Friday's victory, Carolina reached the 40-victory mark for a school-record eighth straight season and joined LSU and Coastal Carolina as the only teams in the nation to win 40 games in 2009.
Ackley, who recorded his 14th career game with four or more hits, went 4-for-5 with doubles in the fifth and sixth innings and his 17th home run in the eighth after the Eagles (31-22, 13-14 ACC) scored four in the seventh to trim the lead to 10-8. Ackley, who also tied a career-high with four runs scored, has hit safely in eight straight with six multi-hit games over this stretch.
Seager was 4-for-5, also matched a career-high with four runs and added two RBI, while Garrett Gore was 3-for-5 with two RBI. Additionally, Ryan Graepel was 2-for-5 with three RBI to match a career high for the third time, and Levi Michael doubled twice and drove in two.
Lefty relief ace Brian Moran (7-1) earned a fourth win in his last seven outings with four strikeouts in three innings out of the bullpen. He retired the first eight batters he faced and set down 17 straight in over two appearances this week before running into trouble in the sixth. He allowed one run to snap a string of 14 2/3 scoreless innings.
Patrick Johnson, who entered after BC had crept back within two runs in the seventh, worked the final 2 1/3 innings for his first save. UNC starter Adam Warren went 2 1/3 for his shortest start of the season and allowed three runs on seven hits and a walk, while striking out five.
BC starter J.B. MacDonald (4-7) allowed 10 runs (eight earned) on 12 hits and two walks over 5 2/3.
Matt Hamlet was 4-for-5 as six Eagles had multi-hit efforts. The teams combined for 26 runs and 34 hits in the three-hour, 56-minute marathon.
After being held to just one run in Thursday's loss, Carolina struck for four in the first with two-out singles from Gore and Graepel highlighting the scoring. Ackley singled, swiped second and scored when Gore roped his third hit of the series into center for the first run. Seager and Mark Fleury walked to load the bases for Graepel, who singled to right to pick up two RBI, and BC right fielder John Spatola misplayed the ball allowing Fleury to score all the way from first for a 4-0 lead.
The Eagles answered with a run in the bottom of the inning when Robbie Anston doubled to left and came around to score on a single to left center from Tony Sanchez to trim the lead to three after one.
BC tacked on a run in the second when Spatola singled and scored from second on an RBI single through the left side by Anston. Andrew Lawrence followed with a double, but Warren bounced back to fan Sanchez and strand two in scoring position.
Gore drove in his second run of the afternoon to push the lead to 5-2 in the third. Seager singled to center and came around to score on a double to right center from Gore.
The Eagles scored for a third straight frame to crawl back within two runs yet again and ended the day for Warren in the process. Mickey Wiswall singled and scored from third on an infield single by Hamlet to cut the lead to 5-3. With runners on second and third, Moran came on and quickly ended the inning with a strikeout and a fly out.
Two-run hits by Mike Cavasinni and Seager helped the Tar Heels break things open with a five-run sixth inning. Singles by Fleury and Graepel and a BC error loaded the bases for Cavasinni, who drove in two with a single to the right side. Ackley doubled to right to pick up his first RBI of the day, and Seager followed with a single through the right side to score Cavasinni and Ackley for a 10-3 cushion.
The Eagles got one back in the sixth on an RBI double by Anthony Melchionda, but Colin Bates came on with the bases loaded to pick up two outs and prevent any further damage.
Bates was not as fortunate in the seventh when the Eagles got back in the game with four two-out runs to trim the UNC lead to 10-8. After the BC loaded the bases, Anston drew a bases-loaded walk, and Bates hit Lawrence to plate two runs. Sanchez followed with a two-run single to center bring the Eagles within two and end the day for Bates. Johnson then fanned Wiswall to end the inning and strand two.
Sparked by Ackley's three-run homer, Carolina quickly got those four runs back in the top of the eighth. A walk and a bunt put two on, and Ackley drilled a Chris Kowalksi offering to center for his 17th home run, matching the most by a Tar Heel since 2003.
Seager then singled for his third hit of the day and came around to score on an RBI fielder's choice by Graepel for a 14-8 UNC lead.
The Tar Heels tacked on two more in the ninth when Ackley walked, Seager singled and Michael doubled to right center to drive in both players with their career-high-tying fourth runs and an eight-run cushion.
Boston College closed the scoring with two unearned runs in the ninth for the 16-10 final margin.
The Tar Heels and Eagles wrap up the three-game series with their regular season finale at 1 p.m. Saturday.
