University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina, Florida State Meet In Top-25 Clash
March 18, 2010 | Baseball
March 18, 2010
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - No. 17 North Carolina (14-4, 1-2 ACC) will host No. 4 Florida State (13-3, 1-2 ACC) in a pivotal Atlantic Coast Conference series this weekend. Games are slated for Friday at 7 p.m., Saturday at 2 p.m. and Sunday at 1 p.m. Saturday's and Sunday's game will both be broadcasted live with Carolina All-Access via tarheelblue.com.
Both teams will look to improve their conference records after a tough opening league weekend. Carolina has scored 72 runs on 78 hits despite a 3-2 record over the last five games. The Tar Heels twice scored 20 or more runs in the last week, a 21-9 win over Duke and a 25-1 win over Princeton. Nearly half of the Tar Heels' season runs have been scored in the last five games.
Carolina features a balanced attack with a .334 team batting average led by junior Ben Bunting's .387 average. Seven Tar Heel regulars all post .300 averages or better, highlighted by Levi Michael, Jesse Wierzbicki and Bunting - who all are riding a six-game hit streak into the weekend.
The Tar Heel pitching staff currently posts an ACC-best 156 strikeouts, en route to a 3.75 staff ERA this season. The weekend rotation of Matt Harvey, Colin Bates and Patrick Johnson combined for an 8-2 record in 12 starts. Harvey and Bates are each 3-0 on the year.
Mike Cavasinni, who is nursing a sore throwing arm, went 5-for-10 with five RBI in three games against Florida State a year ago. Several Tar Heels will be playing their first career games against Florida State, including freshmen Brian Goodwin and Tommy Coyle. Goodwin was 4-for-4 with five RBI, a home run and two walks in his ACC debut last Friday against Duke.
On the mound, five Tar Heel pitchers have all made career appearances against the Seminoles. Colin Bates, Bryant Gaines and Nate Striz all pitched in relief against Florida State in their careers. Matt Harvey and Patrick Johnson have each made one start against the Seminoles. Harvey has yet to allow an earned run, one start and two relief appearances, in 6.1 career innings against Florida State.
Carolina and Florida State have played a very competitive series as of late, with the teams splitting their last 12 meetings. The home team has won two of three in the series since 2006, as six of the last 12 contests have been decided by just one run. The Seminoles handed Carolina two losses last season in Tallahassee, Fla., both walk-off ninth inning victories.
Head coach Mike Fox posts a 14-25 career record against Florida State, but is 10-5 at Boshamer Stadium against the Seminoles. Florida State leads the all-time series 60-26, which dates to 1956.
This weekend will mark the first games against a ranked opponent for the Tar Heels in 2010. Carolina will continue to play many more ranked opponents in the outstanding ACC, which currently has six of their 12 teams rated in the top 25. After this weekend, Florida State will have played over half of their games against ranked teams. The Seminoles have split with top-10 Florida, swept then No. 25 Georgia and dropped two of three to No. 1 Virginia.
Florida State enters the weekend with a 13-3 overall record and 1-2 league record. The Seminoles have lost three of four games, all against ranked teams. FSU dropped two out three to No. 1 Virginia last weekend, including a 9-8 decision in which the Seminoles led by five runs.
Florida State features a .326 team batting average, 3.19 staff ERA and .970 team fielding percentage. The Seminoles return three important hitters in outfielder Tyler Holt, shortstop Stepehen Cardulloand third baseman Stuart Tapley. All post a .333 batting average or better and offer a wealth of experience against the Tar Heels.
On the mound, Florida State current ranks second in the ACC in team pitching. Left-handers Sean Gilmartin (3-1, 2.08 ERA) and John Gast (3-0, 2.05 ERA) anchor the Seminole staff. Gilmartin outdueled Alex White a year ago, winning a 3-2 decision.
