University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Florida State
No. 4 Florida State Rallies Past No. 17 North Carolina 4-3
March 19, 2010 | Baseball
March 19, 2010
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - Mike McGee's RBI single and first save of the season propels No. 4 Florida State over No. 17 North Carolina 4-3 Friday in front of 2832 fans at Boshamer Stadium. Florida State (14-3, 2-2 ACC) scrapped together a pair of runs in the eighth and ninth inning to rally past Carolina. A brilliant effort from Matt Harvey that featured 11 strikeouts and seven shutout innings results in a no decision. The Tar Heels fall to 14-5 and 1-3 in the ACC with the loss, as 14 of the last 27 games between the two teams have been decided by one run.
Harvey was masterful allowing just two hits in seven shutout innings and fanning 11 batters. The Mystic, Conn., product struck out double-digit batters for the fourth time in his career and second this season. The 11 strikeouts tie a season-high and are just two shy of his career best 13.
Greg Holt (0-2) suffers the tough loss allowing two runs on two hits in one inning. Jimmy Messer also allowed two runs and R.C. Orlan and Michael Morin also made appearances on the mound.
The Seminoles scored one run on an infield hit, another on an error, one more on a close play at the plate and the game-winner on a wild pitch to rally past the Tar Heels. Jayce Boyd registered a big RBI double to tie the score in the ninth, as Carolina was just two outs away from the victory.
Mike McGee (2-0) earns the win for Florida State, pitching a scoreless and hitless ninth inning. Seminole starter Sean Gilmartin pitched six innings allowing three runs, two earned, on seven hits.
Offensively Carolina was paced by two hits apiece for Jesse Wierzbicki and Mike Cavasinni. Wierzbicki earned a pair of RBI, while extending his hit streak to seven games. Levi Michael also stretched his hit streak to seven games with one hit. Ryan Graepel earned an RBI sacrifice fly. 10 runners left on base, including many in scoring position, plagued the Tar Heels.
Carolina darted out to a 2-0 lead early in the first. Tommy Coyle reached on an infield hit and Michael an error to give Carolina a pair of base runners. Each advanced on stolen base then scored on a two RBI single off the bat of Wierzbicki. The Tar Heels stranded three base runners, but claimed a two-run lead after one.
Harvey and Gilmartin settled in after the laborious first, both showing excellent command. Harvey used two double plays and only allowed one hit through first six innings. The junior twice fanned the side through the first six frames.
Gilmartin was equally effective allowing just five hits and two runs through the first six innings. The sophomore worked into the seventh inning, but after allowing a double from Michael and single from Wierzbicki his day ended on the mound.
Left-hander Tye Buckley entered in the seventh, but walked Brian Goodwin on four pitches. Daniel Bennett came on to pitch and allowed a Graepel sacrifice fly to score Michael and push the lead to 3-0.
Robby Scott then entered after Bennett picked off Goodwin, in what proved to be an important out, to earn the Seminoles' second out. Scott then struck out pinch-hitter Brett Knief.
Messer entered to pitch in the eighth and worked himself into a bases loaded jam. The sophomore retired Stpehen Cardullo on a pop out, but then allowed two runs on a RBI single off the bat of McGee.
The second run then scored on an error from Graepel to cut the Tar Heel lead to one. Graepel corralled the single from McGee deep in the hole, but sailed a throw over third base trying to retire the runner advancing to third. Tyler Holt scored on the error as no Tar Heel was covering home plate.
Holt entered the game to pitch after the two runs scored and fanned one batter to end the inning.
Florida State tied the scored in the ninth after a RBI double off the bat of Jayce Boyd to score Rafeal Lopez. Boyd doubled to left center and scored Lopez all the way from first on a close play at the plate. Graepel received the relay throw from Goodwin in right and rifled the throw to Stallings at the plate, but Lopez managed to get his hand on the plate as the ball ricocheted off of Stallings mitt.
Orlan then relieved Holt hitting the only batter he faced to load the bases. Morin then entered the game and sailed his first pitch over Stallings head to give the Seminoles the go ahead run on a wild pitch.
Mike McGee earned the win in the ninth retiring the Heels in order, courtesy of a fantastic play by Boyd at first base.
Carolina and Florida State will resume their series tomorrow at 2 p.m. from Boshamer Stadium. Saturday's game will be broadcasted live via tarheeblue.com.
