No.1 North Carolina Takes Game Two from No. 11 Miami, 3-1
March 10, 2007
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – – North Carolina’s Alex White struck out seven in 7 2/3 innings and No. 1 North Carolina avoided another rally by No. 11 Miami to hold off the Hurricanes, 3-1, Saturday afternoon in the second game of the Atlantic Coast Conference series. Freshman lefty Eric Erickson had another solid outing for the Hurricanes (10-8, 0-2 ACC) as he pitched seven strong innings holding UNC to one earned run.
Jemile Weeks was 2-for-4 with one run scored for Miami, but UNC out-hit UM, 10-5. Roger Tomas, Ryan Jackson and Blake Tekotte each had one hit. Erickson allowed eight hits in the game. He threw 77 pitches and 62 of them went for strikes. Danny Gil tossed the final inning for Miami.
Reid Fronk and Dustin Ackley each went 2-for-4 with one RBI for the Tar Heels (14-1, 2-0 ACC).
Ackley delivered the last blow for the Tar Heels when he tripled Tim Fedroff in the bottom of the eighth for an insurance run. The Hurricanes tried to keep it to a one-run game in the bottom of the eighth. Chad Flack led off with a double and moved to third on a bunt. Flack was thrown out at home giving UNC two outs. After Fedroff reached on the fielder’s choice, Ackley sent a ball over Blake Tekotte’s head in center field for the last run of the game.
Miami had a key opportunity in the top of the eighth. Jemile Weeks led off the eighth with a single to left center. Roger Tomas’ bunt single put the go-ahead run on base. Mark Sobolewski grounded out moving up the runners. Yonder Alonso was intentionally walked loading the bases with one out. DiNatale then hit a come-backer to the mound and Weeks was thrown out at the plate for the second out. UNC’s Matt Cox then struck out
The Hurricanes threatened in the top of the seventh when Ryan Jackson hit a one-out double down the right field line. He tried for three bases but was thrown out at third base for the second out of the inning.
UNC took the 2-1 lead in the bottom of the third. Garrett Gore led off with a double down the left field line. He scored on Reid Fronk’s RBI single to left center.
Miami would take a 1-0 lead in the top of the first. Weeks led off with an infield single. Roger Tomas walked, but was picked off first base. After Sobolewski walked, Alonso grounded out to first base to score Weeks.
North Carolina tied the game in the bottom of the first. Reid Fronk doubled to right field, moved to third on an error by Erickson and scored on Josh Horton’s ground out.
Miami and North Carolina will wrap up their series Sunday at 12 p.m. The game will be televised on CSS. Junior LHP Manny Miguelez (0-0, 5.68 ERA) will face UNC sophomore RHP Luke Putkonen (3-0, 1.08 ERA). The game can be heard locally on WVUM (90.5 FM) or via the internet at www.wvum.org.
Game Notes: Six of North Carolina’s 10 runs in the series has come with two outs … Sobolewski had his 11-game hitting streak snapped on Saturday.
