University of North Carolina Athletics
Carolina Baseball Monday Journal
February 22, 2010 | Baseball
Feb. 22, 2010
Walston's Monday Baseball Notebook | Buy Baseball Tickets
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - No. 11 North Carolina (3-0) will continue their 2010 campaign Tuesday hosting in-state foe UNC Greensboro (3-0) at 3 p.m. at Boshamer Stadium. UNC Greensboro is coming off a weekend series sweep over Cleveland State. Carolina is 13-4 all-time against the Spartans, winning the last four meetings. The two teams last met April 15, 2008 - a 14-3 decision in favor of the Tar Heels.
North Carolina's Garrett Davis will get the starting nod on the mound Tuesday for the Tar Heels. Davis, who pitched only eight innings in 2009, is two years removed from "Tommy John" surgery. Tuesday's start will be Davis' third of his career. His last start was April 1, 2009 against Old Dominion.
The Spartans' Warren Slack will be the starter Tuesday for UNC Greensboro. Slack has made one appearance in 2010, rendering four runs on five hits in 1.2 innings pitched. Slack, a junior, registered a 4-0 record and 3.77 ERA in seven starts in 2009.
Following the midweek action, UNC will host Maine this weekend. Maine (0-3) dropped a three-game set with Lamar, including a heart-breaking 17 inning 5-4 loss to the Cardinals.
Be sure to check out the Monday Baseball Notebook for more information on the Tar Heels. Before closing the book's on last week's action, TarHeelBlue.com takes a look back at the week that was for the Diamond Heels:
NOTING THE GEORGE WASHINGTON SERIES:
- The Tar Heels swept their eighth straight season-opening series last weekend with three wins over George Washington.
- Senior Mike Cavasinni hit safely in each game this weekend, to extend his career-best hitting streak to nine games that dates back to last season. Cavasinni faced the Tar Heels last out trailing by a run in the ninth and tenth innings Friday. Both times the senior delivered a base hit - scoring the tying run in the ninth to force extra innings, and knocking in the tying run in the tenth en route to a 6-5 win. The Huntersville, N.C., native also earned his 26 career stolen base over the weekend.
- North Carolina's lineup and pitching staff featured eight new faces from a year ago. Six freshman were in action over the weekend as well as two junior college transfers.
- Pitchers Michael Morin and Chris Munnelly both saw their first career appearance Friday. Munnelly pitched 3.1 innings allowing only one hit, one run and striking out two. Morin earned his first collegiate victory Friday with one inning of relief, allowing only one run. The freshman followed that performance earning his first collegiate save Saturday tossing two innings of no-hit ball.
- Tommy Coyle and Brian Goodwin each earned their first collegiate hits over the weekend. The second baseman went 2-for-9 en route to scoring three runs over the weekend. The freshman was hit by a pitch three times in his first three games. Goodwin earned his first RBI Friday on a sacrifice fly and his first collegiate hit Sunday - a two-out, two-strike, two RBI triple. The speedy freshman has started all three games in right field. Fellow classmates Chaz Frank and Bryn Renner were also in action.
- Junior college transfers first baseman Dillon Hazlett and catcher Jesse Wierzbicki figure to be a large part of the Tar Heels success in 2010. Hazlett posts a team-high .444 batting average after the first weekend of play. Wierzbicki belted the Diamond Heels' first home run of 2010, a two-run shot Friday afternoon. Wierzbicki also saw time at designated hitter Sunday, while sophomore Jacob Stallings picked up the catching duties.
- The Tar Heels posted a team ERA of 2.89 over the weekend. The new-look starting rotation of Matt Harvey, Colin Bates and Patrick Johnson looked sharp. Bates, in his first career start, earned a victory Sunday while Johnson struck out seven batters in as many innings to also earn a win. Harvey earned a no-decision in 5.2 innings pitched Friday.
- At the plate the team registered a .268 average, but only seven strikeouts in 97 at-bats. The Tar Heels earned three extra base hits over the weekend and continue to be a work in-progress at the plate.
- Defensively, the Diamond Heels posted a .976 fielding percentage over the weekend. Levi Michael successfully made the switch from second to third base, making impressive plays at the hot corner over the weekend.
- Carolina drew 3,652 fans on opening weekend at Boshamer Stadium.
