University of North Carolina Athletics
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Tar Heels Take Series, Top Wolfpack 9-6
April 11, 2010 | Baseball
April 11, 2010
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Note: UNC BaseBald for the Cure photos will be posted Monday evening.
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - A six-run seventh inning lifted No. 20 North Carolina over No. 28 NC State 9-6 Sunday afternoon at Boshamer Stadium. Michael Morin earned the victory in relief helping Carolina improve to 22-12 overall and 6-9 in league play. The Wolfpack's Anthony Tzamtzis suffers the loss as State falls to 21-12 overall and 6-9 in ACC play.
"We had to have a big inning and prevent the big inning, we were able to do that today," said head coach Mike Fox. "We got off to a good start and it was a huge win for us."
Morin (5-0) earned the win allowing just three runs, none earned, in two innings of relief. Starter Chris Munnelly pitched 4.2 innings, rendering just one run on four hits. Colin Bates allowed two runs on just one hit in two innings of relief.
Nate Striz and Garrett Davis each pitched in the ninth, as Davis recorded his first save of the season retiring the only batter he faced for the final out.
Tzamtzis (2-2) allowed four runs on three hits in just one inning of relief. Starter Alex Sogard was strong in 5.2 innings of work, allowing just two runs. John Lambert and Rob Chamra combined to allow three runs in 1.1 innings.
Offensively Levi Michael paced the Carolina attack with three hits and two RBI. Jesse Wierzbicki added a hit and two RBI. In addition, Ben Bunting, Tommy Coyle and Jacob Stallings each posted two hits.
State broke the scoreless tie in the fifth on a Matt Bergquist RBI single. Chris Schaeffer singled to start the inning and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Schaeffer later moved to third on a long fly out off the bat of Tarran Senay and scored on the Bergquist single.
Bates entered to pitch with runners at second and third with two outs, to quickly dispose of Dallas Poulk with a fly out to right field to end the fifth.
Sogard was strong allowing just three hits through the first five innings. He disrupted the Tar Heel batters' timing, recording his first 15 outs on just 53 pitches.
Carolina finally got on the board in the sixth inning on a RBI single off the bat of Michael. Mike Cavasinni and Bunting each parachuted singles into left field to lead off the inning. After a Wierzbicki fielders' choice, Michael ripped a single through the left side to score Cavasinni.
Tzamtzis entered to pitch with runners at the corners and struck out Hazlett, but not before balking in Wierzbicki to give the Tar Heels a 2-1 lead.
The Wolfpack responded with two runs in the top of the seventh. After two walks issued by Bates, Dallas Poulk doubled down the right field line to score Senay and tie the score at two.
Drew Poulk then drove in Kyle Wilson on a RBI groundout as Morin entered to pitch in relief of Bates. Morin ended the inning with a groundout as State pushed in front 3-2 at the stretch.
Coyle lead off the bottom of the seventh with a triple to left center field. The Tar Heels waited until two outs to score Coyle with a big two-out hit off the bat of Bunting. Wierzbicki then doubled down the left field line to score Cavasinni and Bunting.
Lambert entered to pitch in relief of Tzamtzis and Michael ripped a single to left field to score Wierzbicki. Carolina tacked on two more runs after two Wolfpack errors and a caught stealing allowed Brian Goodwin to score from third. Dillon Hazlett was caught in a pickle at first base, but Goodwin was able to score before Hazlett was caught stealing to push the Tar Heels in front 8-3 after seven.
Carolina added an insurance run in the eighth after a Stallings double scored Coyle. Carolina carried a six-run lead into the ninth after scoring all nine of their runs in sixth, seventh and eighth frames.
Morin recorded two outs in the ninth, but State loaded the bases after a Carolina error and Morin hit Ciencin with a pitch. Striz entered with the bases loaded and two outs.
Harold Riggins then doubled to right center to score two Wolfpack runners and cut the Tar Heel lead to 9-5. A Schaeffer single then further sliced into the Carolina lead at 9-6.
Garrett Davis then came on to pitch with runners at the corners and two outs, to retire Senay on a groundout to secure the Carolina victory.
Carolina will return to action hosting Coastal Carolina Wednesday at 6 p.m.
