University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Wake Forest
No. 6 Tar Heels Claim 9-0 Win Over Wake Forest
May 28, 2011 | Baseball
May 28, 2011
DURHAM, N.C. - After a delay of more than 14 hours No. 6 North Carolina (45-13) capped off a 9-0 victory over Wake Forest (25-30) Saturday afternoon at Durham Bulls Athletic Park. With the win Carolina moves to 1-1 in the ACC Tournament and will take on Virginia following tonight's Miami vs. Wake Forest game.
The Tar Heels held a 5-0 lead over Wake Forest when play was halted in the top of the seventh inning Saturday morning at 1:55 a.m. with Jesse Wierzbicki standing at second and Levi Michael at third.
When play resumed a little after 4:30 p.m. on Saturday Tommy Coyle battled to a full count before lifting a double over the left fielder's head to plate both runs and extend the Carolina lead to 7-0. Jacob Stallings tacked on another run when he singled home Coyle with a shot up the middle.
Chris Munnelly came on in relief of starter Patrick Johnson who threw six no-hit innings the night before against the Demon Deacons. Munnelly picked up the first two outs of the seventh but Steven Brooks hit a flair into center field for the first hit of the game.
Carolina would strand a pair of runners in the eighth before Bryant Gaines came on and threw a scoreless inning as the senior right-hander threw a scoreless frame.
The Tar Heels added a sac fly in the top of the ninth off the bat of pinch hitter Brian Holberton.
Gaines, Tate Parrish and Cody Penny combined a scoreless ninth to secure Carolina's 45th win of the season.
Levi Michael paced the offense with a 3-for-4 performance while connecting on a solo home run and scoring three runs.
Jesse Wierzbicki and Greg Holt each contributed home runs late Friday night as Holt blasted a two-run shot and Wierzbicki hit a solo shot of his own.
Wierzbicki and Tommy Coyle each finished with two hits and drove in two runs.
Patrick Johnson improved to 11-1 becoming the first pitcher since Alex White in 2008 to register at least 11 wins in a season.
Johnson struck out eight batters to eclipse 100 for the season with 102 and is two shy of entering the single-season top 10. The 288 career strikeouts is one shy of third place on the career list.
The win moves Johnson into the top 10 in both season (11) and career wins (23).
Carolina will take on Virginia following the Miami vs. Wake Forest game which should conclude around 8:30 p.m.
