University of North Carolina Athletics
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No. 5 Tar Heels Sink Pirates, 5-3
April 12, 2011 | Baseball
April 12, 2011
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - No. 5 North Carolina claimed its 30th win of the year Tuesday night as the Tar Heels downed instate foe East Carolina (21-11) 5-3 at Boshamer Stadium. Michael Morin notched the win, his third of the year, as Carolina trotted out seven different pitchers and held the Pirates scoreless over the final five innings.
The Tar Heels reach the 30-win plateau in just 35 games joining the 1983 squad as the only two teams in Carolina history to accomplish the feat.
Carolina snapped an 11-game streak of allowing the game's first run when the Tar Heels struck for a run in the bottom half of the first. Levi Michael drove a pitch into the right field corner and raced around the bases for his third triple of the year and Carolina's 20th of the season.
A strikeout and a walk put runners at the corners for Colin Moran who drove a pitch through the right side of the infield to plate Michael and give UNC an early 1-0 lead.
Starter Bryant Gaines worked his way out of trouble in the second and the third before tossing a 1-2-3 fourth inning in his first start of the season.
Carolina tacked on two more runs in the bottom of the fourth when Moran reached on his second single of the night with one down in the inning. A misplayed ball by the ECU shortstop on back-to-back plays made the score 2-0 before Seth Baldwin singled up the middle to make it 3-0.
Gaines loaded the bases in the top of the fifth ending his day as the Tar Heel bullpen started to work. Tate Parrish came on and forced a ground out before making way for Andrew Smith. The freshman right-hander allowed a single to cut the deficit to 3-2.
The Pirates would face the fourth Tar Heel pitcher of the inning as Emanuel came on for Smith allowing a game-tying single before getting the final out via strikeout.
A quiet fifth inning for the Tar Heel put the Pirate back up to the plate as they managed a lead off single before Emanuel forced a pop out to second base. Chris Munnelly became the fifth pitcher of the evening as he retired the next two batters he faced to keep the score level at 3-3.
R.C. Orlan opened the top of the seventh on the mound for the Tar Heels and retired the first two batters he faced with a ground out and a fly out before hitting Trent Whitehead.
Another call to the bullpen brought in Michael Morin needed just two pitches before battery-mate, Jacob Stallings, caught Whitehead stealing to end the inning.
The Carolina bats came back to life and used a little help from the Pirates in the bottom of the seventh as Carolina hung two more runs on the board.
Ben Bunting started things off by reaching on an error by the second baseman and then moved to second when Levi Michael singled through the right side.
Tommy Coyle hit a grounder to second base and ECU's Drew Reynolds attempted to cut down Michael at second but his throw sailed into left field allowing everyone to reach safely and Bunting to score on the play.
Jacob Stallings followed with a bunt single down the third base line to load the bases. A strike out looking would put one out on the board before Jesse Wierzbicki lifted a ball into right field allowing Michael to score on a sacrifice fly and extending Carolina's lead to 5-3.
Morin picked up two quick outs in the top half of the eighth with a strike out and a line out to right field but John Wooten doubled down the line in right. A lack of communication between Morin and Wierzbicki on a bunt down the first base line put runners at the corners before another big strike out.
Carolina went quietly in the bottom of the eighth before Morin delivered a 1-2-3 ninth inning to improve to 3-2 on the year.
Levi Michael finished the night 3-for-4 at the dish, while Colin Moran added two hits of his own. Michael crossed the plate two times and Moran upped his RBI total to 48 for the year.
Up next for the Tar Heels is a trip to Raleigh to face NC State in a three-game series set to open Friday night at 6:30 p.m.
