University of North Carolina Athletics
Diamond Heels Close Home Slate
May 4, 2009 | Baseball
May 4, 2009
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - With spring semester exams winding down, No. 1 North Carolina begins the home stretch of the regular season this week by hosting Elon and Longwood in the final regular season games at Boshamer Stadium. The Tar Heels (35-11) face the Phoenix (33-13) Tuesday at 6 p.m. and welcome the Lancers (25-17) Thursday at 6 p.m.
Jones Angell and Adam Lucas of the Tar Heel Sports Network will have the call of both games on AM-1360 WCHL in Chapel Hill and on TarHeelBlue.com. A webcast of the Elon game will be available live and on-demand via ACC Select.
Carolina opens a run of nine games in 12 days to close the regular season Tuesday with the Phoenix, who lead the Southern Conference. The Tar Heels own a 24-8 lead in the all-time series but suffered a 2-0 setback to Elon last season. The Phoenix joined the Tar Heels in the 2008 NCAA Cary Regional but the teams did not meet in the postseason.
Elon has won nine straight entering Tuesday and will start right-hander Tom Porter (1-2, 4.70 ERA) against the Tar Heels. Paced by Pat Irvine (.404-15-47) and Chase Austin (.375-16-60), the Phoenix boast 104 home runs on the season and a .322 team average.
The Tar Heels have won eight of nine overall and six straight in ACC play but have not taken the field since closing out a three-game sweep of Maryland April 26. Carolina is paced offensively by the junior trio of Dustin Ackley (.384-13-40), Mark Fleury (.339-10-52) and Kyle Seager (.396-3-40).
Sophomore right-hander Patrick Johnson, who is 2-1 with a 2.64 ERA and 58 strikeouts in just 44 1/3 innings, will make his sixth start Tuesday. He has been at his best as a starter with a sparkling 1.67 ERA and 40 strikeouts over his five starts.
Golfers in attendance Tuesday will have a chance to fine-tune their game before first pitch against Elon. In conjunction with the PGA of America's Free Golf lesson month of May, UNC Finley PGA Professionals will be conducting free 10 minute lessons from 4-6 p.m. before the game.
Stop by Henry field adjacent to Boshamer Stadium and let UNC Finley's PGA Professionals help you with your golf game.
Thursday's game added after an earlier contest with the Lancers was rained out. Longwood is coming off a four-game sweep of Maryland-Eastern Shore and travels to James Madison before making the trek to Chapel Hill. Four Lancers are batting better than .376, led by Brant Jones (.404-6-40).
UNC will start freshman right-hander Jimmy Messer, who is 2-0 with 16 strikeouts over 18 innings, Thursday against Longwood.
The Tar Heels return to conference action this weekend at NC State beginning Friday. All three games will be covered by the Tar Heel Sports Network and ACC Select.
