University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Gardner-Webb
No. 12 Tar Heels Use Big Inning In 8-1 Win Over Gardner-Webb
May 3, 2011 | Baseball
May 3, 2011
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - No. 12 North Carolina struggled to find a hit through the first six innings before erupting for a seven-run seventh inning en route to a 8-1 win over Gardner-Webb (28-14-1) Tuesday afternoon at Boshamer Stadium. Chris Munnelly notched the win throwing 5.1 innings of shutout ball. UNC returns to action Friday when it hosts Maryland in an ACC series in Chapel Hill.
After a six-day layoff the Tar Heel bats struggled to get going Tuesday as the Gardner-Webb duo of Erik Heiligenstadt and Brock Wilson combined for six straight no-hit innings.
The Tar Heels were retired in order through the first three innings before Levi Michael was hit by a pitch with one out in the bottom of the fourth inning.
Following a fly ball to right field for out number two Jesse Wierzbicki drew a walk to put a pair of runners on for Chaz Frank. Michael and Wierzbicki executed a double steal on a 3-1 count and as John Harris' throw skipped past Gardner-Webb third baseman Scott Coleman and into left field allowing Michael to score the game's first run.
The Runnin' Bulldogs had their opportunities early on putting a pair of runners on in the top of the fourth on back-to-back singles to open the inning but starter Chris Munnelly settled in and forced a pop out to Tommy Coyle before Coyle charged a ground ball and flipped to first for the second out of the inning.
Munnelly forced another ground ball, this time to Colin Moran at third to end the inning before the Tar Heels struck for a run in the bottom half.
Munnelly would work a scoreless fifth inning before notching his fifth strikeout of the day to open the top of the sixth. Tate Parrish would come on to face a pair of left-handed hitters in the top of the sixth and forced back-to-back ground outs to end the sixth inning.
Andrew Smith provided a scoreless top of the seventh inning before the Tar Heel bats finally came to life in the bottom half of the seventh.
Chaz Frank opened the seventh with a free pass before Jacob Stallings, Tom Zengel, Ben Bunting and Greg Holt all notched singles to break up the no-hitter and push Carolina's lead to 4-0. Zengel notched the first RBI, while Holt drove in a pair with his single in the seventh.
With runners on first and second and still nobody out in the inning Tommy Coyle drew a walk to load the bases for Levi Michael who provided the biggest hit of the night when he drove a Brett Stackhouse offering off the scoreboard in left field for a grand slam.
Michael's grand slam was the first for the Tar Heels since Jacob Stallings connected on one against Wake Forest last year.
Carolina used five pitchers for the final six outs of the contest as Hobbs Johnson and R.C. Orlan combined for the eighth inning and the trio of Cody Stiles, Tim Brechbuehler and Garrett Davis finished out the ninth.
Chaz Frank extended his hit streak to a career-high six games with a single to center field in the seven-run seventh.
Munnelly improves to 4-3 on the year and after back-to-back outings of not allowing an earned run will return to the weekend rotation as he is scheduled to start Sunday vs. Maryland.
Carolina will welcome in Maryland this weekend as the Tar Heels and Terps will do battle Friday (7 p.m.), Saturday (1 p.m.) and Sunday (1 p.m.).
