University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Elon
Top-Ranked Carolina Closes Out Elon, 5-1
March 13, 2007 | Baseball
March 13, 2007
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - Junior Kyle Shelton broke open a tight game with a two-run, pinch-hit double in the seventh, and starter Adam Warren and four relievers combined to allow just five hits, as No. 1 North Carolina defeated Elon, 5-1, Tuesday at Boshamer Stadium. The Tar Heels (16-1) extended their current winning streak to six games with their second straight victory over the Phoenix (10-9).
After falling behind on a Chase Austin solo home run in the second, Carolina regained the lead with three runs in the third and jumped out to a four-run cushion on Shelton's first extra-base hit of the season in the seventh. His two RBI were a team-high, while left fielder Reid Fronk and catcher Tim Federowicz each added two hits. First baseman Dustin Ackley's run-scoring single in the third gives him 15 straight games with an RBI and extends hit team-best hitting streak to nine games.
Warren (3-0) won his third straight start with 5 1/3 solid innings. He gave up just one run on Austin's homer and allowed three hits and two walks, while striking out three. Relievers Brian Moran, Rob Wooten, Rob Catapano and Matt Danford allowed just two hits the rest of the way. Danford came on in a jam in the ninth but got the final two outs to record his first save since May 20, 2005.
Elon starter Ryan Basham (1-1) took the loss after allowing three runs on four hits and two walks over 2 2/3 innings.
Down 1-0 in the third, the Tar Heels loaded the bases on a single by Kyle Seager and a pair of walks, before Chad Flack tied the game with a sacrifice fly to left. Ackley followed two batters later with a line drive single off the foot of Basham before Federowicz singled up the middle for a 3-1 UNC lead.
Neither team managed much over the middle innings, until Shelton's base hit in the seventh. Singles by Horton and Federowicz put runners on the corners, and after Federowicz moved up on a wild pitch, Shelton doubled down the left field line off Elon reliever Jesse Lewter to score two.
Elon threatened in the ninth, loading the bases with two out, but Danford got pinch hitter Zach Booker to fly out to center to end the game.
The Tar Heels are back in action Wednesday against UNC Greensboro at 6 p.m. A webcast of the game will be available on ACCSelect.com.
