White Pitches No. 4 UNC Past No. 7 Miami, 3-0
April 17, 2009
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – The seventh-ranked University of Miami baseball team dropped the first game of this weekend’s series at No. 4 North Carolina, 3-0, Friday night in front of a capacity crowd of 4,100 at Boshamer Stadium.
The Hurricanes (26-11, 11-8 ACC) managed just one hit all night off UNC starter Alex White, who struck out 10 in tossing his first career complete game shut-out for the Tar Heels (29-10, 11-7 ACC). White allowed just two base-runners all night – a Dave DiNatale single in the third and a Yasmani Grandal walk in the eighth.
Miami starter Chris Hernandez (4-3) suffered the loss despite turning in one of his strongest outings of the season. Hernandez allowed just two earned runs – his second-lowest total of the season – on eight hits while walking two and striking out six in 6 2/3 innings. Daniel Miranda came on in relief of Hernandez and held UNC scoreless over the final 1 1/3 innings.
DiNatale finished the night 1-for-3 with his single to right in the third.
For UNC, Kyle Seagler went 3-for-4 with a run and a RBI while Dustin Ackley finished the night 2-for-3 with a walk, a run and a RBI.
Both teams were held off the board until the bottom of the fourth when a UM throwing error allowed Kyle Seager, who had singled earlier in the inning, to score from second.
The Tar Heels maintained the one-run led until adding two more runs in the seventh. After the first two batters in the inning were retired, Garrett Gore walked before an Ackley double to center put the Tar Heels up, 2-0. Moments later, Seager singled up the middle, scoring Ackley from second to put UNC up for good, 3-0
Miami and UNC will play game two of the series Saturday afternoon at 4 p.m. Right-hander David Gutierrez (2-4, 3.63 ERA) will take the mound for UM while the Tar Heels will counter with right-hander Adam Warren (4-2, 3.19 ERA).
Game Notes
– Attendance for Friday night’s game was 4,100. It was Boshamer Stadium’s second capacity crowd this season.
– For the 24th time in 37 games, UM’s opponent scored first.
– Miami and its opponent were held scoreless through three innings for just the second time this season (3/1 at Florida).
– Jason Hagerty’s team-high 13-game hitting streak was snapped with a 0-for-3 performance.
