University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Virginia Tech
No. 15 Tar Heels Take Series Opener, 10-4
March 18, 2011 | Baseball
March 18, 2011
BLACKSBURG, Va. - Patrick Johnson turned in another quality start and the Tar Heel bats drove in 10 runs on 11 hits en route to a 10-4 series opening win over Virginia Tech (12-8) Friday night in Blacksburg, Va. Johnson improved to 4-0 on the year, while fellow senior Jesse Wierzbicki extended his career-high hit streak to 12 games with a three-run home run in the fourth inning. The Tar Heels and Hokies will meet Saturday at 2 p.m. in the second game of the three-game series.
Carolina struck in the very first inning when Ben Bunting laced a ball inside the bag at first base that went into the right field corner for a lead off double. Tommy Coyle and Levi Michael followed with back-to-back ground outs to put the Tar Heels in front, 1-0.
Following a pair of scoreless frames the Carolina offense struck again in the top of the fourth extending its lead to 4-0. Coyle led off with a similar hit to Bunting's in the first down the line in right for a single. A pop out was the first out of the inning before Jacob Stallings dropped a single into left center.
Colin Moran followed with a hard hit ball to first that the Hokies were able to get a force out at second for out number two but Moran beat the throw to first to keep the inning alive.
Jesse Wierzbicki made the Hokies pay for not converting the double play as he launched 1-0 pitch over the left center field fence for a three-run home run. The long ball was Wierzbicki's fifth of the year as the senior first baseman extended his career-long hit streak to 12 games.
Carolina tacked on three more runs in the fifth as Coyle tripled in a pair of runs and Levi Michael added a sacrifice fly but not before Virginia Tech's Chris Rash made an outstanding play. Michael lifted a ball down the left field line and Rash on a dead sprint made the grab in foul territory before crashing into the wall. Rash would be shaken up on the play but stay in the game.
Virginia Tech struck back for three runs in the fifth with a two-run home run by Matt Blow to left field and a RBI single later in the inning cutting the Carolina lead to 7-3.
The Hokie runs snapped a 13.2 inning scoreless streak for Carolina right-hander Patrick Johnson. The senior settled down after the tough fifth allowing just a single over the next two scoreless frames.
Johnson's offense added another run in the top of the sixth as the Tar Heels loaded the bases and a walk to Seth Baldwin drove in a run but Carolina was unable to add another run to its total in the inning.
Carolina extended its lead to 11-3 with a pair of runs in the ninth. Bunting and Coyle reached to open the inning with a single and a walk and Levi Michael was hit by a pitch to load the bases for Stallings.
The junior backstop was in a quick 0-2 hole before battling back to a full count before lifting a RBI single to center. Moran would follow with a sacrifice fly to left to provide the final run of the game for Carolina.
Virginia Tech picked up a run in the bottom of the ninth to provide the final margin of 10-4.
Ben Bunting scored a season-high three runs and Jesse Wierzbicki equaled his career high with three RBI.
Patrick Johnson has registered a quality start (six innings with three runs or less) in all five of his starts this year and is now 4-0 with a 1.67 ERA. The Tar Heels are 5-0 in games that Johnson has started this year.
The Tar Heels and Hokies will face off again on Saturday with first pitch scheduled for 2 p.m.
