University of North Carolina Athletics
Tar Heels Look To Rebound Against Spartans And Pirates
April 23, 2012 | Baseball
April 23, 2012
Complete Carolina vs. UNC Greensboro and East Carolina Game Notes
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - After suffering just its second ACC series loss of the year, the No. 10 North Carolina baseball team will look to get back on track with a pair of home midweek games against UNC Greensboro and East Carolina. The Tar Heels will take on the in-state foes at 6 p.m. both nights before taking a week off for exams.
Last Week
The Tar Heels went 2-3 on the week with a midweek split against High Point (W, 10-5) and Liberty (L, 5-3) before dropping the series opener against the Yellow Jackets by an 11-4 margin.
The Tar Heels erupted for 12 runs in the first game of Saturday's doubleheader before letting a 2-0 lead slip away in the nightcap and falling 4-2.
Sophomore Brian Holberton paced the offense on the week as he hit .474 (9-for-19) with two doubles, a home run and five RBI. Freshman Michael Russell also hit above a .400 clip for the week as he was 7-for-17 at the dish with six runs scored and three RBI.
The series loss to the Yellow Jackets was the second of the year for the Tar Heels who have posted an 8-2 mark in weekend series in 2012.
Pitching Matchups
Tuesday: Carolina - RHP Chris Munnelly - Junior right-hander Chris Munnelly will make his second straight midweek start on Tuesday against UNC Greensboro. Munnelly went five innings against Liberty on Wednesday and allowed two runs on five hits in a no decision. Munnelly enters the start with a 2-0 record on the year with a 3.07 ERA, which is good for 15th in the ACC.
UNC Greensboro - The Spartans have yet to name a starter for Tuesday's contest.
Wednesday: Carolina - LHP Kent Emanuel - With the annual bye weekend due to exams the Tar Heels will turn to Friday night starter Kent Emanuel on Wednesday against East Carolina. Emanuel struck out a season-high nine batters Friday night against Georgia Tech but suffered his third loss of the year. Emanuel sports a 5-3 record on the year with a 2.24 ERA and has struck out 61 batters over 64.1 innings of work.
East Carolina - The Pirates have not announced a starter for Wednesday's game.
Carolina vs. UNC Greensboro Series
The Tar Heels hold a 16-4 advantage over the Spartans since the series began play in 1992. Carolina claimed a 5-1 win in Greensboro earlier this season as Chaz Frank and Tommy Coyle each scored a pair of runs to pace the offense and starter Benton Moss threw 5.2 shutout innings. The win was Carolina's seventh straight over the Spartans and UNC owns a perfect 12-0 record at home against UNC Greensboro.
Carolina vs. East Carolina Series
North Carolina holds a 48-25 series record against East Carolina since the series began in 1958. The Tar Heels have won four straight against the Pirates after sweeping the season series last year with a 5-3 win at home April 12 before claiming a 5-4 win in Greenville April 27. Carolina holds a 13-game winning streak over East Carolina in Chapel Hill since a 1994 defeat and is 28-7 overall at home against the Pirates.
Going For Ten In April
The Tar Heels will need a pair of wins this week to post 10 wins in April for the 14th time in the last 15 years as they sit at 8-6 in the month of April this year. Carolina has posted at least 10 wins in the month of April every year since 1998 except for the 2010 season when the Tar Heels were 9-8.
Up Next
After a weekend off for the annual exam break the Tar Heels will return to action Wednesday, May 2 when they host Winthrop in a midweek tilt at 6 p.m. before returning to ACC play when Boston College comes to Boshamer Stadium for a three-game series, May 4-6.
