University of North Carolina Athletics
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Florida State
No. 4 Seminoles Slip By No. 17 Tar Heels 5-3
March 21, 2010 | Baseball
March 21, 2010
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - Brian Busch allowed one hit in six shutout innings of relief to lead No. 4 Florida State over No. 17 North Carolina 5-3 Sunday in front of 2651 fans at Boshamer Stadium. The Seminoles (15-4, 3-3 ACC) scored a pair of runs in the eighth and ninth innings to defeat Carolina (15-6, 2-4 ACC). Dillon Hazlett led North Carolina with two hits and three RBI. Florida State claimed its second straight series win over Carolina and first in Chapel Hill since 2005.
Nate Striz (0-1) suffers his first loss of his career, after allowing just two runs on two hits in nearly an inning of relief. Starter Patrick Johnson allowed one run on seven hits while fanning six in five frames. Greg Holt allowed two runs on two hits in 2.1 innings. Jimmy Messer and R.C. Orlan combined to allow just on hit in one shutout inning.
Busch (3-0) was brilliant in six frames of relief, allowing just one hit and striking out three. The sophomore retired 13 straight Tar Heel batters at one point after relieving starter Geoff Parker. Mike McGee earned his second save of the year and weekend, allowing one hit in nearly an inning of relief.
Carolina tied a season-low with just four hits, two from Hazlett. The junior also knocked in all of Carolina's runs. Mike Cavasinni and Tommy Coyle each recorded a hit in the loss.
The Tar Heels led 24 of the 27 innings in the series despite dropping two of three games. Florida State scored two runs in the eighth and ninth innings Friday to win game one 4-3.
Carolina darted out to a 3-0 in the second inning. Parker labored, walking the bases loaded before a Hazlett double that cleared the bases. The three RBI double to right center off the bat of Hazlett allowed Carolina to own a three-run lead after two frames.
Johnson settled in after getting a lead, fanning three Seminole batters through three innings. The junior wriggled out of a jam in the third frame after allowing runners at first and second with no outs. A botched bunt and two straight strikeouts allowed Johnson to get out of the frame unscathed.
The Tar Heels ended Parker's day in the third, after the junior allowed just two hits but walked three. Busch entered the game in the third and got out of the inning, as Carolina stranded two base runners.
Florida State scored one in the top of the fifth on a RBI single off the bat of Stephen Cardullo. Cardullo parachuted a single into right field to score Rafael Lopez. Johnson got out of the inning with a fly out and groundout.
Johnson worked into the sixth inning, but exited the game after allowing two singles. Holt entered to pitch walking the first batter he faced to load the bases with no outs. Holt escaped the threat allowing no runs after a huge 6-4-3 double play. Holt wriggled out of the jam to keep the Heels in front 3-1 after six and a half innings.
The Seminoles continued to inch closer to the Tar Heel lead, after a solo home run over the right center field fence off the bat of Sherman Johnson in the top of the eighth. Holt then walked the next batter as Striz entered the game to pitch.
The Seminoles then tied the game with a RBI double down the left field line from Sean Gilmartin to score Justin Gonzalez. Striz quickly got out of the inning after a groundout and fly out, but the Seminoles knotted the score at three.
Busch stymied the Tar Heel hitters into the eighth inning, allowing one hit and retiring 12 batters in a row.
The Seminoles ripped three straight singles in the ninth to take their first lead of the game. A RBI single off the bat of James Ramsey scored Cardullo to give the Seminoles a 4-3 lead. Florida State manufactured another run on RBI sacrifice fly from Gonzalez to extend their lead to 5-3 entering the bottom of the ninth.
After a walk issued to Ryan Graepel the Seminoles replaced Busch with left fielder Mike McGee. McGee allowed his first hit of the year to Cavasinni, but still wriggled out of the bases loaded two-out jam retiring Bunting on a groundout. The junior ripped a groundball up the middle, but Gonzalez snared the ball to get the force out at second and give the Seminoles the win.
Carolina will be back in action at UNC Greensboro Wednesday at 6 p.m.
