University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
NC State
Tar Heels Prevail In 12 Over NC State, 4-0
May 26, 2012 | Baseball
May 26, 2012
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GREENSBORO, N.C. - Freshman Adam Griffin slapped a run-scoring single with the bases loaded in the 12th inning Saturday night to kick start a four-run inning as No. 5 North Carolina (44-14) downed NC State (39-17), 4-0, in front of a record crowd of 10,229. Junior closer Michael Morinretired the final 14 batters he faced to secure the first-ever extra inning shutout in ACC Tournament history.
Both pitching staffs combined to toss 22 straight scoreless innings as neither team was able to push across a run through the first 11 innings.
After having just five base runners through the first 11 frames the Tar Heel bats came to life in the 12th.
Colin Moran snapped an 0-for-4 night at the plate with a single through the right side to open the 12th and was looking to move up on a sacrifice bunt by Jacob Stallings.
Stallings was unable to get a one-strike bunt attempt down but proceeded to send a single into left field to put the first two runners on base.
NC State went to the bullpen and brought on right-hander Vance Williams to face Griffin.
The Clemmons, N.C., native fell into an early 0-2 hole as Williams started the freshman off with back-to-back fastballs. After Williams missed with a pair of pitches to even the count, Griffin slapped a ball past a drawn-in infield and into right field to plate Moran and put UNC in front, 1-0.
Parks Jordan singled home another run and Chaz Frankcapped off the scoring with a sacrifice fly to center field.
Michael Morincame out for his fifth inning of work in the 12th and sat the Wolfpack down in order to secure the 4-0 victory for the Tar Heels.
The Carolina pitching staff combined to allow just five hits on the night and struck out 12 NC State batters. Freshman Benton Mossearned the start and allowed a pair of hits over 5 1/3 scoreless innings.
Hobbs Johnsonthrew 1 1/3 innings for the Tar Heels before departing in a crucial spot in the seventh inning.
NC State had tallied a pair of hits in the seventh and had two outs when the Tar Heels went to the bullpen for freshman right-hander Luis Paula.
Paula needed just four pitches to get Trea Turner swinging to end the threat and keep the game scoreless.
Morin entered the contest in the eighth and surrendered a lead off single before buckling down and striking out the next batter before forcing a ground ball double play to end the inning.
The hit in the eighth would be the last for the Wolfpack as Morin cruised through the next four innings to earn his sixth win of the year.
NC State's Carlos Rodon was responsible for keeping the Tar Heels in check through the first nine innings as the freshman left-hander allowed just four hits and matched a career high with 12 strikeouts.
The extra-inning shutout was the first ACC history and gave the Tar Heels their ninth shutout of the year and second of the ACC Tournament.
The announced attendance of 10,229 is the largest crowd to ever witness a college baseball game in the state of North Carolina.
