University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Maryland
Johnson's Gem Leads Carolina Past Maryland, 5-0
May 6, 2011 | Baseball
May 6, 2011
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - Senior right-hander Patrick Johnson struck out a career-high 12 batters during seven shutout innings as No. 12 North Carolina (35-10, 14-8 ACC) downed Maryland (20-30, 5-20 ACC), 5-0, Friday night at Boshamer Stadium. The Tar Heels have won four straight games and stretched its streak of not allowing an earned run to 30 innings in the win.
After waiting an hour due to a rain delay, Patrick Johnson came out dealing Friday night as he allowed just four hits and struck out a dozen en route to earning his eighth win of the year.
Colin Moran had a hand in all five runs for the Tar Heels as he scored a pair of runs and drove in three more with a bases-clearing double in the fourth inning to blow the game open.
The Tar Heels had a chance to make a statement early on in the contest as Maryland starter Sander Beck walked the bases loaded with one out but Jesse Wierzbicki fouled out and Ben Bunting laced a ball into right center but center fielder Korey Wacker tracked it down to stop a big rally.
The Terrapins picked up a pair of singles and a hit by pitch loaded the bases with two down in the top of the third but Johnson buckled down and struck out Austin Kilbourne for the third out of the inning.
The Tar Heels started a two-out rally in their half of the third when Colin Moran drew a free pass and Jesse Wierzbicki drew one of his own before Ben Bunting laced a single up the box to plate Moran and give Carolina a 1-0 lead.
Carolina blew the game open with two outs in the bottom of the fourth inning. Tom Zengel singled to right center with one out before a pop out put two outs on the board.
Tommy Coyle sliced a ball down the left field line that found its way in front of Maryland left fielder Austin Kilbourne for a double putting two runners in scoring position for Levi Michael. The junior would take a pitch off his left leg putting Colin Moran in a crucial situation.
Moran would take a ball before driving the next pitch into the left center field gap clearing the bases in the process. The three-run double bumped Moran's ACC-leading RBI total to 57 and moved UNC's lead to 4-0.
After allowing two runners in the top of the fourth Johnson took control of the contest. The Conover, N.C., native allowed just one runner over the next two frames and struck out the side in the sixth.
Sitting at over 100 pitches entering the seventh Johnson issued a free pass to the first man he faced, the runner moved to second on a sacrifice bunt. Johnson buckled down again picking up his 12th strike out of the night and then forced a fly out to Chaz Frank in left field to end the threat.
The Tar Heels tacked on an insurance run in the bottom half of the seventh when Colin Moran drew a one-out walk, his third of the night, and then moved to third when Ben Bunting singled to right field.
unting would get picked off by Maryland's Eric Potter but first baseman Tim Kiene's throw to second would catch Bunting in the back allowing him to reach second safely and Moran to score from third to extend the lead to 5-0.
R.C. Orlan threw a 1-2-3 eighth inning before combining with Shane Taylor on a scoreless ninth inning to give Carolina its fourth straight win.
The three RBI game for Moran was his 16th of the year, while Ben Bunting tallied two hits in a game for the first time since April 10 at Florida State.
Carolina ran its streak of not allowing an earned run to 30 consecutive innings dating back to the April 24 contest against Miami.
Kent Emanuel will face David Carroll in game two of the series on Saturday with first pitch slated for 1 p.m.
