University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Miami
Tar Heels Fall To Hurricanes 11-1
April 17, 2010 | Baseball
April 17, 2010
CORAL GABLES, FLA. - No. 13 Miami scored eight of their eleven runs in the middle innings to defeat No. 21 North Carolina 11-1 Saturday night at Alex Rodriguez Park. Chris Munnelly suffers the loss as Carolina falls to 22-15 overall and 6-11 in the ACC. Miami's Eric Erikson earns the win improving the Hurricanes to 25-9 on the year and 13-4 in league play.
Munnelly (1-1) allowed seven runs in 4.2 innings of work while striking out five. The freshman allowed just four hits, but also totaled four walks. Carolina used two more freshmen pitchers in left-hander R.C. Orlan and right-hander Cody Stiles, who combined to allow five runs, just two earned, in 2.1 innings. Nate Striz fanned two in one inning of work.
Erikson (4-2) allowed just one run in five innings of work while notching six strikeouts. The Hurricanes used two relievers to combine to toss four shutout innings.
Carolina was paced offensively by Dillon Hazlett's two hits. Levi Michael added a hit and the Heels lone RBI, while Ben Bunting posted a hit and run scored. The Tar Heels scored their only run in the first frame.
A Miami lineup snafu started the game off Saturday night. Miami head coach Jim Morris turned in last night's lineup, thus making Chris Hernandez the winning pitcher from Friday, the starting pitcher and Michael Broad the designated hitter. Eric Erikson was scheduled to start and Ryan Perry slated as the designated hitter, both entered as a relief pitcher and pinch-hitter respectively.
Carolina took their first lead of the series at 1-0 after the first frame. Bunting ripped a double down the right field line and advanced to third on a one base error from the right fielder. Michael drove in Bunting on a infield single.
Perry made the lineup snafu relevant with a two-run home run in the bottom of the second to vault Miami in front 2-1. The Hurricanes tacked on another run in the third after a Zeke DeVoss double. DeVoss stole third and later scored on a balk from Munnelly.
Both pitchers locked in during the fourth frame. Each struck out the side in the frame. Erikson allowed one hit in the middle of his three punch-outs. Munnelly, who shook off a line drive from Yasmani Grandal off his foot in the third, fanned four `Canes in a row.
Miami blew open the score in the bottom of the fifth scoring four runs on just two hits. A two-out three-run home run off the bat of Harold Martinez highlighted the inning for Miami. Two walks issued from Munnelly scored as the Hurricanes led 7-1, with just four hits, after five frames.
Miami extended their lead to 10-1 in the bottom of the sixth scoring three runs on three hits and one Tar Heel error. A hard hit potential double play ball was botched in the Tar Heel middle infield, leading to a Scott Lawson two-RBI double to give the `Canes a 10-1 lead.
Carolina hit a few balls hard, but had nothing to show for it. The Tar Heels only earned three base runners after the fourth frame.
Miami tacked on another run in the seventh scoring on a wild pitch from Stiles. The Hurricanes stranded two runners after a fine defensive play from new first baseman Greg Holt, but still owned an 11-1 lead.
Striz worked a perfect eighth frame retiring the Hurricanes in order with two strikeouts.
The two teams will conclude their three-game set tomorrow at 1 p.m. from Alex Rodriguez park.
