University of North Carolina Athletics
Carolina Baseball Monday Notebook
May 24, 2010 | Baseball
May 24, 2010
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. --- Winners of seven of their last ten games, the University of North Carolina baseball program finished their 2010 campaign in strong fashion. The Tar Heels notched a 4-0 record last week, which was capped by a series sweep of No. 12 Virginia Tech.
The Tar Heels will miss the 2010 ACC Tournament after finishing in an eighth place tie with Boston College. The two teams did not meet in 2010 and the Eagles own the tiebreaker due to record against the league's highest finishing teams.
Carolina will now await next Monday's NCAA Selection show that will air at 12:30 p.m. on ESPN.
NOTING THE WEEK OF MAY 18-22:
• UNC notched four wins to end their regular season with a 36-20 overall record and 14-16 league record. The Tar Heels won their last 10 games at home and finished the 2010 season with a 29-9 home record.
• Carolina notched a .359 batting average this week led by senior Ryan Graepel's .529 batting average (9-for-17). The senior was outstanding at the plate in his final home games notching a .882 slugging percentage courtesy of three doubles, a home run and nine RBI. Fellow senior Mike Cavasinni wrapped up his home career at Boshamer Stadium making outstanding catches in center field all weekend long.
• Colin Bates also wrapped up his last home week as a Tar Heel in tremendous fashion. Bates anchored the Carolina staff last week, which posted a 3.50 ERA and 28 strikeouts to just 10 walks. The Naperville, Ill., native pitched six shutout innings of relief to lead Carolina to a 5-3 come-from-behind win over Virginia Tech Friday. In two appearances last week, Bates notched a 1.23 ERA allowing just one run on three hits while striking out nine.
• Freshman Brian Goodwin registered a .462 batting average (6-for-13) in the sweep of Virginia Tech. Goodwin ripped two doubles, a home run and added seven RBI. The Rocky Mount, N.C., product is still chasing the school's single season triples record as he is one shy of the school record eight.
• Matt Harvey continued to show why he is one of the ACC's and nation's top pitchers. Harvey etched his name in the school record book tying for 10th place all-time in career strikeouts with 254. The junior has enjoyed a career-best 93 strikeouts this season in just 90 innings pitched and is one win away from placing tenth all-time in school history in career win total.
• No one finished the 2010 campaign like sophomore Levi Michael. Carolina won 14 of their last 18 games thanks in large part to Michael's success at the plate. The team-leader in nearly every offensive category, Michael notched a .429 batting average (30-for-70), six home runs, 27 runs scored, a .743 slugging percentage and a .535 on-base percentage in the last 18 games. More impressive, Michael has reached base safely in his last 34 games.
• Jacob Stallings and Seth Baldwin also enjoyed solid weeks at the plate. Stallings, who has improved immensely with the bat this season, notched six hits in 14 at-bats. The sophomore posted a .338 batting average in league play good for second on the team. Baldwin batted .500 on the week, including a big RBI Friday night to help Carolina come-from-behind and defeat Virginia Tech 5-3.
• Jimmy Messer has continued to dazzle out of the pen as of late allowing just two hits in five scoreless innings of work last week. The sophomore has not allowed a run in his last six outings while fanning nine and walking just two.
• The Tar Heels posted their highest stolen base total since 2006 this season - stealing 86 bases in 108 attempts. Carolina swiped 91 bases in their 2006 national championship run. UNC finished the regular season with 20 triples, the fourth year in a row the Tar Heels have registered at least 20. Carolina set a new school record with 28 triples last season.
