University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Wake Forest
Tenth-ranked Tar Heels Edge Demon Deacons, 2-1
March 25, 2005 | Baseball
March 25, 2005
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - Sophomore Andrew Miller and junior Jonathan Hovis combined to allow just one unearned run on four hits to lead No. 10 North Carolina (18-5, 3-2 ACC) to a 2-1 win over Wake Forest (10-13, 4-6 ACC) in game one of a three-game series Atlantic Coast Conference series Friday at Boshamer Stadium. Due to the threat of inclement weather Sunday, the series will conclude with a doubleheader Saturday. Games will be played at 2 p.m. and 6 p.m.
With the win, Carolina improved to 16-0 at home, which ranks as the third-best start at Boshamer Stadium for the Tar Heels.
Miller (6-0) went six-plus innings and allowed just one unearned run on four hits and a season-high six walks. He struck out eight en route to a perfect 3-0 start in ACC play. Miller, who now has a 0.60 ERA in 45.1 innings, picked up his second career win over Wake Forest. Hovis allowed no hits over three innings and fanned a career-high five batters to earn his second save of the season.
Carolina's nine-hit attack was led by senior center fielder Chase Younts, sophomore designated hitter Matt Ellington and freshman third baseman Reid Fronk, who each had two hits on the night. Younts drove in what proved to be the game-winning run with a fourth inning double. Freshman shortstop Josh Horton put the Tar Heels on the board in the second with his first career home run.
Miller worked out of a jam in the first, as he gave up three singles but picked off his fourth runner of the season and stranded runners at second and third thanks to an inning-ending grounder to short. The Deacs also had two runners on with just one out in the fourth but the Tar Heels got an inning-ending double play, as Miller fanned right fielder Casey Sterk, and Carolina catcher Justin Webb threw out a runner at third base.
Horton, who went 4-for-4 in Wednesday's win over Towson, put the Tar Heels up 1-0 in the second with a two-out, solo shot over the wall in right center off WFU starter Josh Ellis, who took the loss to fall to 3-2 this season.
Carolina scored its second two-out run in the fourth, as Fronk singled through the right side to start the rally, and Younts doubled to the gap in right center to drive him in and push the lead to 2-0.
After the three singles in the first, Miller did not allow another hit until the seventh, when Wake scored on a passed ball to cut the lead in half. With runners on first and second, Miller was lifted in favor of Hovis, who got the first two outs of the inning before second baseman Andy Goff, who led off the inning with a walk, came home on a passed ball by Webb.
Ellis was the tough-luck loser, as he went seven innings and allowed two runs on nine hits. He fanned seven.
Sophomore Daniel Bard will start for the Tar Heels in game two against Wake's Charlie Mellies, while the Deacons will start Matt Hammond in game No. 3. Carolina's game three starter has not been named.
