University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Boston College
No. 10 Tar Heels Sweep Boston College, 4-1
May 6, 2012 | Baseball
May 6, 2012
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - No. 10 North Carolina slugged out 11 hits and allowed just three as the Tar Heels (34-13, 16-8 ACC) completed a three-game sweep of Boston College (20-29, 9-18 ACC) with a 4-1 victory Sunday afternoon. Hobbs Johnson recorded the win, his fourth of the year, while closer Michael Morin moved into fourth place on the UNC single season saves list with his 13th of the year.
Sophomore left-hander Hobbs Johnson turned in 5.1 innings of one-run ball for the Tar Heels Sunday afternoon to earn the victory as he kept the Boston College hitters in check. Johnson surrendered just two hits on the day but issued a career-high five walks.
The Rocky Mount, N.C., southpaw kept the Eagles off the scoreboard by picking up timely strikeouts by retiring a career-high seven batters via the punch out.
Johnson picked up early run support when Carolina pushed a run across in the bottom of the second inning. Cody Stubbs and Tommy Coyle started the rally with a pair of singles, including one of the hit-and-run variety from Coyle, off of Boston College starter Eric Stone.
Adam Griffin delivered the big hit in the inning when he drove a pitch to right field for a RBI single to put Carolina in front, 1-0.
The Tar Heels made it 3-0 in the third inning when the top of the order produced back-to-back one-out doubles. Chaz Frank opened the rally with a shot into the right center field gap for a two-bagger before Russell sent one the opposite way into right field for a double of his own.
A wild pitch moved Russell to third base and Colin Moran accomplished his job by lifting a ball into deep right center field to plate Russell with a sacrifice fly and give the Tar Heels a 3-0 advantage.
oston College pulled a run back in the top of the fourth inning when Spenser Payne turned on a Johnson offering and delivered a solo home run to left.
Carolina answered in the bottom half of the fourth with another run when Griffin notched his second RBI single of the day to right field.
Johnson battled through the fifth inning and registered one out in the sixth before making way for the Tar Heel bullpen. Shane Taylor came on and retired the only two batters he faced in the sixth inning to keep the Tar Heels in front, 4-1.
Left-hander R.C. Orlan came on for the seventh inning and six of the seven batters he faced, allowing just one hit while striking out three.
Closer Michael Morin came on in the ninth and recorded a 1-2-3 ninth inning for his 13th save of the year and second in as many days. The save moved Morin into fourth place on the UNC single season saves list, just five behind leaders Andrew Carignan (2007) and Thad Crisman (1993).
The Tar Heel pitching staff did not allow a runner past second base after the solo home run in the fourth and matched the fewest hits allowed in a game this season with three.
Pacing Carolina at the plate on Sunday were Chaz Frank, Cody Stubbs and Adam Griffin who all recorded two hits in the victory. The 11 hits the Tar Heels tallied Sunday bumped their series total to 36 after nine on Saturday and 16 on Friday. The 36 hits are the most for the Tar Heels in an ACC weekend series this year.
Carolina will face a pair of midweek foes this coming week as the Tar Heels host UNC Wilmington Tuesday, followed by a trip to East Carolina on Wednesday.
