University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Florida State
No. 17 Tar Heels Even Series, Defeat No. 4 Seminoles 10-4
March 20, 2010 | Baseball
March 20, 2010
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - Freshman Chris Munnelly earned his first win of the season to lead No. 17 North Carolina over No. 4 Florida State 10-4 Saturday in front of 3249 fans at Boshamer Stadium. Jesse Wierzbicki paced Carolina offensively with three RBI and two hits. The Tar Heels improve to 15-5 and 2-3 in the ACC, while the Seminoles fall to 14-5 and 2-3 in the ACC.
Starter Colin Bates labored walking a career-high five, but allowed just two runs on five hits while striking out five in 3.2 innings. Munnelly (1-0) pitched 3.1 innings of relief, allowing one unearned run on one hit while fanning two. Michael Morin allowed one run in the final two frames, in his second appearance in as many days.
John Gast (3-1) lasted just 4.1 innings, allowing five runs on six hits and striking out three. Four additional Seminole relievers made appearances, combining to allow five runs, only one earned, in 3.2 innings.
Wierzbicki's 2-for-4 and three RBI performance led the Tar Heels at the plate. Mike Cavasinni and Jacob Stallings each posted two RBI. Both Levi Michael and Wierzbicki extended their hit streaks to eight games, which matches a career-best for Michael.
Florida State jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first frame. A RBI single off the bat of James Ramsey scored Tyler Holt. A two-out RBI double from Sherman Johnson then scored Ramsey, but Carolina was able to get Stuart Tapley out at the plate attempting to score a third run. An assist from Brian Goodwin in right field then another assist from Dillon Hazlett on the relay to home caught Tapley to help Bates get out of the inning.
North Carolina gained the lead scoring three runs in the bottom of the second. After a Wierzbicki single, walk issued to Goodwin and infield single by Ryan Graepel the Tar Heels loaded the base with no outs. Hazlett was then retired on strikes, but Cavasinni knocked in Wierzbicki on a groundout. Stallings laced a triple down the right field line to score Goodwin and Graepel allowing Carolina to take the lead 3-2. The two-RBI triple was the first of Stallings career.
The Tar Heels stretched their lead to 5-2 scoring two runs with two outs in the bottom of the third. An infield RBI single from Hazlett scored Michael, after his leadoff double. Cavasinni then earned his second RBI, ripping a single to left field to score Wierzbicki.
Bates pitched an efficient third frame, but was plagued by a career-high five walks. His day ended after loading the base on two walks and a hit after 3.2 innings. Munnelly entered in the fourth with the bases loaded, but wriggled out of Bates' jam with a fly out. The freshman has inherited 13 base runners this season and allowed none to score.
Munnelly continued to pitch effectively retiring the first seven batters he faced. Carolina threatened in the fifth and sixth, scoring one run on a RBI groundout from Wierzbicki. The Seminoles' Tyler Everett allowed the run after relieving Gast in the fifth.
Munnelly allowed his first base runner in the seventh, who later advanced to third on a failed pick off attempt. Holt then scored on a RBI single off the bat of Stephen Cardullo. Carolina led 6-3 at the seventh inning stretch.
The Tar Heels added four insurance runs in the bottom of the inning, benefiting from two Seminole errors. Chaz Frank earned a pinch-hit RBI off on newly inserted pitcher Hunter Scantling. Wierzbicki ripped a two RBI single to extend the Carolina lead to 10-3. Tye Buckley entered in the game to earn the third out of the inning retiring Goodwin on a line out.
Morin allowed one run on s sacrifice fly in the ninth, but retired the Seminoles to allow North Carolina to even the series at one game apiece.
Carolina and Florida State will conclude their three-game series tomorrow, with the rubber match set for 1 p.m. at Boshamer Stadium.
