University of North Carolina Athletics
Colin Moran slides into home against Miami
Photo by: Joe Bray
This Day In Tar Heel Baseball History: May 23
May 23, 2020 | Baseball
CHAPEL HILL - North Carolina looks at "On This Day in Tar Heel History", as Tom Jensen shares his memories as an avid Tar Heel fan and regular at Boshamer Stadium.
May 23
For today's version of 'This Day in Recent Carolina Baseball History' we go back to 2008 and 2013 for one of the best outings of Matt Harvey's Tar Heel career and a game where the Heels were so dominant the mercy rule had to be invoked. Plus a quick hit from 2012:
-On May 23, 2008 the Heels took on Wake Forest in the last ACC Tournament in Jacksonville. This was a year where the tournament's stakes weren't too high for the Heels- they were going to be a national seed based on their 45-10 regular season record where they didn't lose a single ACC series. But if you have to play the games you might as well win them.
Matt Harvey was on the hill for the Heels and he threw a 1-2-3 1st. He struck out the side in a 1-2-3 2nd. The Deacs got a leadoff single in the 3rd and the runner stayed there as Matt got another pair of strikeouts and a groundout to end the inning.
There was more of the same- Matt threw a scoreless 4th. And a scoreless 5th where Wake got its second and final hit of the day, quickly stranded by another Matt strikeout.
The problem was that Wake's pitcher was pretty much keeping pace- the Heels had only 3 hits and no runs over the first 5 innings themselves. But Tim Fedroff came up with 2 down in the 6th, fell behind 1-2, and then parked one to right to give the Heels a 1-0 lead in the blink of an eye.
Matt threw a 1-2-3 6th with another pair of strikeouts. Wake got the lead runner on in the 7th thanks to an error and tried to bunt him over. Matt forced a pop out on the bunt and then struck out the next 2 guys to end the inning. The runner didn't leave 1st. In fact the Deacs didn't get a runner past 1st the entire day.
Dustin Ackley hit a 2 out single in the 8th. He went to 3rd on an error and came around on a wild pitch, giving the Heels an insurance run they didn't actually particularly need.
Matt threw a 1-2-3 8th with another pair of strikeouts. He finished his day with 8 innings, 13 strikeouts, and only 2 hits and a walk allowed. The stakes in the game weren't that high so Matt had more important starts in a Tar Heel uniform- like the one in Boston that clinched the division in 2009 or the one at Clemson in 2010 that may have made the difference between that team getting in the tournament or not. But I don't know that he ever had a more *dominant* one than this outing.
Rob Wooten came in to start the 9th and struck out the only batter he faced. Brian Moran came in next and struck out first round pick and future big leaguer Allan Dykstra, then got a groundout to finish the game and earn his second save of the season.
Tim Fedroff (including a home run and a double) and Dustin Ackley (including a run) each had a pair of hits for the Heels. Chad Flack and Tim Federowicz had the other hits in the win that pushed the season record to 46-11.
-On May 23, 2013 another version of the Heels who didn't really have much to play for kicked off their ACC Tournament against Miami. After a 48-8 regular season there wasn't any doubt the team was going to be a national seed. But whether the games mattered or not in the big picture, the tournament ended up being one heck of a ride.
Kent Emanuel started for the Heels and threw a 1-2-3 1st. In the bottom half the bats got right to it. Chaz Frank and Landon Lassiter singled to put runners on the corners with nobody out. A Colin Moran single scored Chaz to make it 1-0 and Cody Stubbs followed with a single to load the bases.
They were still loaded with 2 down and it looked like the Heels might not have that big an inning but Brian Holberton came up with a single up the middle to bring in another pair of runs and give the Heels a 3-0 lead.
Kent threw a scoreless 2nd and followed it up with a 1-2-3 3rd. In the bottom of the inning Colin Moran drew a leadoff walk and Skye Bolt made a double to put runners on 2nd and 3rd with no one out. Cody Stubbs singled to bring them both in and give the Heels a 5-0 lead.
Kent threw a 1-2-3 4th, a scoreless 5th, and a 1-2-3 6th. In the bottom of the 6th Michael Russell and Brian Holberton singled to lead off the inning and Mike Zolk bunted them both into scoring position. Parks Jordan singled up the middle to make it 7-0.
I think mercy rule usage in college baseball should probably be more widespread than it is but as it stands the only games the Heels play where it's in effect are in the ACC Tournament. If a team is up by 10 after 7 innings have been played, that's it. With a 7-0 lead after 6 the Heels were getting close to hitting that threshold.
Kent threw a scoreless 7th. In the bottom Cody Stubbs doubled and came around to score on an error that allowed Michael Russell to reach 2nd. Brian Holberton doubled to score Michael and make it 9-0. If the Heels could have gotten him in from 2nd with 1 out that would have been the end of the game but he was stranded there and the Canes survived to the 8th.
Kent threw a 1-2-3 8th. Colin Moran singled with one out in the bottom of the inning and Zach Daly drew a walk to move him to 2nd. Cody Stubbs singled to left to bring Colin home and trigger the mercy rule, giving him the unusual walkoff hit to...win a game 10-0.
Kent Emanuel had a tremendous start, going 8 shutout innings and allowing only 4 hits, giving him his 10th win of the season. The ACC Pitcher of the Year showed in the ACC Tournament that he deserved the honor.
Cody Stubbs (including a double, 3 RBI, and a run) led the way for the Heels with 4 hits. Brian Holberton (including a double, 3 RBI, and a run) and Skye Bolt (including a double and a run) each had 3 hits. Colin Moran (including 3 runs and an RBI) and Chaz Frank (including a run) each had a pair of hits. The win made the Heels 49-8 for the season.
And a quick hit from 2012:
-The Heels beat Wake Forest 6-0 in their opening game of the ACC Tournament, improving their record for the season to 43-13 and further building their case for a national seed.
Jacob Stallings (including a double, 2 RBI, and a run) and Cody Stubbs (including a double, an RBI, and a run) each had a pair of hits for the Heels. Brian Holberton doubled and scored a run, Chaz Frank singled and drove in and scored a run, Shell McCain singled and scored a run, and Tommy Coyle and Parks Jordan each had singles as well.
Shane Taylor started and threw 4.1 scoreless innings. Tate Parrish got the win for striking out the only hitter he faced and Luis Paula got the final out in the 5th, pitching in his home town of Greensboro. RC Orlan threw the next 3.2 innings and was dominant, striking out 6 and allowing only 1 hit. Chris O'Brien came in with the bases loaded and 2 outs in the 9th and struck out the only guy he faced to end the game and preserve the combined shutout.
May 23
For today's version of 'This Day in Recent Carolina Baseball History' we go back to 2008 and 2013 for one of the best outings of Matt Harvey's Tar Heel career and a game where the Heels were so dominant the mercy rule had to be invoked. Plus a quick hit from 2012:
-On May 23, 2008 the Heels took on Wake Forest in the last ACC Tournament in Jacksonville. This was a year where the tournament's stakes weren't too high for the Heels- they were going to be a national seed based on their 45-10 regular season record where they didn't lose a single ACC series. But if you have to play the games you might as well win them.
Matt Harvey was on the hill for the Heels and he threw a 1-2-3 1st. He struck out the side in a 1-2-3 2nd. The Deacs got a leadoff single in the 3rd and the runner stayed there as Matt got another pair of strikeouts and a groundout to end the inning.
There was more of the same- Matt threw a scoreless 4th. And a scoreless 5th where Wake got its second and final hit of the day, quickly stranded by another Matt strikeout.
The problem was that Wake's pitcher was pretty much keeping pace- the Heels had only 3 hits and no runs over the first 5 innings themselves. But Tim Fedroff came up with 2 down in the 6th, fell behind 1-2, and then parked one to right to give the Heels a 1-0 lead in the blink of an eye.
Matt threw a 1-2-3 6th with another pair of strikeouts. Wake got the lead runner on in the 7th thanks to an error and tried to bunt him over. Matt forced a pop out on the bunt and then struck out the next 2 guys to end the inning. The runner didn't leave 1st. In fact the Deacs didn't get a runner past 1st the entire day.
Dustin Ackley hit a 2 out single in the 8th. He went to 3rd on an error and came around on a wild pitch, giving the Heels an insurance run they didn't actually particularly need.
Matt threw a 1-2-3 8th with another pair of strikeouts. He finished his day with 8 innings, 13 strikeouts, and only 2 hits and a walk allowed. The stakes in the game weren't that high so Matt had more important starts in a Tar Heel uniform- like the one in Boston that clinched the division in 2009 or the one at Clemson in 2010 that may have made the difference between that team getting in the tournament or not. But I don't know that he ever had a more *dominant* one than this outing.
Rob Wooten came in to start the 9th and struck out the only batter he faced. Brian Moran came in next and struck out first round pick and future big leaguer Allan Dykstra, then got a groundout to finish the game and earn his second save of the season.
Tim Fedroff (including a home run and a double) and Dustin Ackley (including a run) each had a pair of hits for the Heels. Chad Flack and Tim Federowicz had the other hits in the win that pushed the season record to 46-11.
-On May 23, 2013 another version of the Heels who didn't really have much to play for kicked off their ACC Tournament against Miami. After a 48-8 regular season there wasn't any doubt the team was going to be a national seed. But whether the games mattered or not in the big picture, the tournament ended up being one heck of a ride.
Kent Emanuel started for the Heels and threw a 1-2-3 1st. In the bottom half the bats got right to it. Chaz Frank and Landon Lassiter singled to put runners on the corners with nobody out. A Colin Moran single scored Chaz to make it 1-0 and Cody Stubbs followed with a single to load the bases.
They were still loaded with 2 down and it looked like the Heels might not have that big an inning but Brian Holberton came up with a single up the middle to bring in another pair of runs and give the Heels a 3-0 lead.
Kent threw a scoreless 2nd and followed it up with a 1-2-3 3rd. In the bottom of the inning Colin Moran drew a leadoff walk and Skye Bolt made a double to put runners on 2nd and 3rd with no one out. Cody Stubbs singled to bring them both in and give the Heels a 5-0 lead.
Kent threw a 1-2-3 4th, a scoreless 5th, and a 1-2-3 6th. In the bottom of the 6th Michael Russell and Brian Holberton singled to lead off the inning and Mike Zolk bunted them both into scoring position. Parks Jordan singled up the middle to make it 7-0.
I think mercy rule usage in college baseball should probably be more widespread than it is but as it stands the only games the Heels play where it's in effect are in the ACC Tournament. If a team is up by 10 after 7 innings have been played, that's it. With a 7-0 lead after 6 the Heels were getting close to hitting that threshold.
Kent threw a scoreless 7th. In the bottom Cody Stubbs doubled and came around to score on an error that allowed Michael Russell to reach 2nd. Brian Holberton doubled to score Michael and make it 9-0. If the Heels could have gotten him in from 2nd with 1 out that would have been the end of the game but he was stranded there and the Canes survived to the 8th.
Kent threw a 1-2-3 8th. Colin Moran singled with one out in the bottom of the inning and Zach Daly drew a walk to move him to 2nd. Cody Stubbs singled to left to bring Colin home and trigger the mercy rule, giving him the unusual walkoff hit to...win a game 10-0.
Kent Emanuel had a tremendous start, going 8 shutout innings and allowing only 4 hits, giving him his 10th win of the season. The ACC Pitcher of the Year showed in the ACC Tournament that he deserved the honor.
Cody Stubbs (including a double, 3 RBI, and a run) led the way for the Heels with 4 hits. Brian Holberton (including a double, 3 RBI, and a run) and Skye Bolt (including a double and a run) each had 3 hits. Colin Moran (including 3 runs and an RBI) and Chaz Frank (including a run) each had a pair of hits. The win made the Heels 49-8 for the season.
And a quick hit from 2012:
-The Heels beat Wake Forest 6-0 in their opening game of the ACC Tournament, improving their record for the season to 43-13 and further building their case for a national seed.
Jacob Stallings (including a double, 2 RBI, and a run) and Cody Stubbs (including a double, an RBI, and a run) each had a pair of hits for the Heels. Brian Holberton doubled and scored a run, Chaz Frank singled and drove in and scored a run, Shell McCain singled and scored a run, and Tommy Coyle and Parks Jordan each had singles as well.
Shane Taylor started and threw 4.1 scoreless innings. Tate Parrish got the win for striking out the only hitter he faced and Luis Paula got the final out in the 5th, pitching in his home town of Greensboro. RC Orlan threw the next 3.2 innings and was dominant, striking out 6 and allowing only 1 hit. Chris O'Brien came in with the bases loaded and 2 outs in the 9th and struck out the only guy he faced to end the game and preserve the combined shutout.
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