University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Florida State
No. 7 Tar Heels Even Series With No. 6 FSU
April 9, 2011 | Baseball
April 9, 2011
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - On a night that saw No. 7 North Carolina's three through nine hitters score a combined eight runs and 5.2 innings of shutout ball from the bullpen the Tar Heels evened their series with No. 6 Florida State (23-8, 9-5 ACC) Saturday night with an 8-5 win. Shane Taylor threw a career-long four innings out of the pen not allowing a run keeping Carolina in the contest.
Carolina fell behind for the 10th straight game as the Seminoles struck for a pair of runs on four hits in the bottom of the very first inning. Florida State used a sacrifice fly and an opposite field single that drew chalk from the left field line.
The Tar Heels bounced right back in the top of the second pushing three runs across and taking the lead. Jesse Wierzbicki started things off by tripling off the right center field wall before back-to-back walks loaded the bases for Seth Baldwin.
aldwin pulled a pitch through the right side to plate Wierzbicki. Ben Bunting and Tommy Coyle made drove in runs of their own with a pair of fielder's choice that scored Chaz Frank and Tom Zengel putting UNC in front 3-2.
The Seminoles took advantage of a Tar Heel miscue in the bottom half of the second pushing across an unearned run and knotting the score at 3-3. FSU threatened in the bottom of the third with a lead off single but starter Kent Emanuel fielded a comebacker and turned a double play before recording a strikeout to end the inning.
An elevated pitch count knocked Emanuel out of the game in the top of fourth as the Seminoles recorded a pair of one-out singles ending the left-handers day. Shane Taylor came on and unfortunately added to Emanuel's final line giving up a pair of infield singles that put FSU in front 5-3.
Like clockwork the Tar Heels answered with a multi-run inning of their own in the top of the fifth with another two-out rally. Lead off men Ben Bunting and Levi Michael were both retired before Tommy Coyle lifted a ball into center field for a single.
Jacob Stallings came up with Carolina's 19th triple of the year a shot down the right field line that right fielder James Ramsey was unable to corral in the corner making the score 5-4. Freshman Colin Moran followed with a shot up the middle that scored Stallings and tied the contest at 5-5.
Jesse Wierzbicki delivered the go-ahead run with a shot through third baseman Sherman Johnson's legs and into left field to score Moran all the way from first. Chaz Frank made it 7-5 with a single in the right center gap as Wierzbicki beat a high throw to the plate to close out the scoring in the fifth.
Carolina took advantage of some more Seminole miscues in the top of the sixth as Seth Baldwin scored without a ball even being put in play. Baldwin struck out swinging but advanced to first base as catcher Rafael Lopez was unable to find a ball in the dirt allowing Baldwin to reach. A balk and a wild pitch moved Baldwin to third before a ball four pitch to Levi Michael was mishandled by Lopez allowing Baldwin to score and make it 8-5.
After a 1-2-3 fifth inning by Taylor the Seminoles were threatening in the bottom half of the sixth. Lead off man Devon Travis doubled off the left center field wall before Taylor picked up a punch out and a ground out.
A walk put a pair of runners on for Jayce Boyd with two down in the frame. Boyd turned on Taylor's offering and hit what looked to be the game-tying home run but for the second time in as many nights Chaz Frank climbed the left field wall and pulled the ball back in for the final out of the inning.
After a scoreless seventh for both teams the Seminoles looked to start a rally as Sean Gilmartin singled to left field. Taylor was able to get lead off man Devon Travis swinging for out number one before the Tar Heels went to their bullpen once again. A four-pitch walk by Tate Parrish put runners at first and second before Greg Holt came on to face preseason All-America Mike McGee. Holt put McGee in an early hole and caught the right-handed slugger swinging for out number two.
R.C. Orlan, the fourth pitcher of the eighth inning, came in to face James Ramsey and needed just three pitches to get Ramsey looking and end the threat.
Closer Cody Penny found some trouble in the bottom half of the ninth as he walked the lead off man and went 2-0 on the next batter before Carolina brought in Michael Morin. The right-handed sophomore threw three straight strikes for a punch out of Sherman Johnson before inducing a game-ending double play.
The win moves Carolina to 28-5 on the year and 11-3 in conference play as the Tar Heels will look for their fourth consecutive series win on Sunday. Carolina has a shot at a series win in Tallahassee for the first time since 1995.
First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m. and sophomore right-hander Chris Munnelly will take the hill for the Tar Heels.
