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Virginia Takes Game One From Tar Heels, 7-2
March 17, 2007 | Baseball
March 17, 2007
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - No. 7 Virginia scored five runs on five hits in the top of the 11th inning to hand No. 1 North Carolina just its second loss of the season, 7-2, Saturday at Boshamer Stadium. Designated hitter Greg Miclat went 3-for-5 with two RBI for the Cavaliers (18-3, 2-2 ACC), while first baseman Dustin Ackley went 4-for-4 to lead the Tar Heels (17-2, 3-1 ACC).
With the game tied at two, Virginia took advantage of a pair of miscues in the outfield by the Tar Heels and got some timely base hits in the 11th inning to take game one of the series. Tyler Cannon singled home the go-ahead run, and Tim Henry and Miclat followed with RBI doubles in the game-winning rally.
Carolina threatened to win the game in the bottom of the 10th, but Mike Cavasinni grounded to third with the bases loaded to end the threat. Virginia's Jake Rule walked the bases loaded, and Cavasinni worked the count to 3-1 before slapping a grounder to third for an inning-ending force out. After Virginia scored five in the top of the inning, the Tar Heels went in order in the bottom of the 11th to drop their first ACC game of the year.
Rule (2-1) picked up the win in relief with three solid innings, while Carolina's Tim Federowicz (1-1) took the loss after allowing four runs on five hits in 1 2/3 innings.
Miclat was one of four Cavaliers with multi-hit days, as David Adams, Patrick Wingfield and Cannon each had two of Virginia's 13 hits.
Ackley led the Tar Heels with his first career four-hit day to extend his hitting streak to 11 games. Right fielder Seth Williams added two hits and an RBI for Carolina. Josh Horton also extended his hitting streak to eight games.
Neither starter figured into the decision but both pitched well. UNC senior right-hander Robert Woodard allowed just four hits and two runs over 6 2/3 innings. He walked three batters, two of which scored, and struck out three. He failed to earn the win for the first time this season in five starts.
Virginia starter Jacob Thompson gave up one run on six hits and two walks over seven innings. He struck out five and left with a 2-1 lead after seven.
Carolina's outfield problems began in the first, when the Cavaliers got on the board in when outfielders Reid Fronk and Drew Poulk let a fly ball off the bat of Adams drop in left center for a two-out RBI double.
Down 1-0, the Tar Heels came back to tie the score in the fourth on a single just inside the third base bag by Williams for his sixth career RBI against Virginia. Horton drew a leadoff walk and took third on a single through the left side by Ackley before Williams drove in the game-tying run with a chopper down the left field line.
The game remained tied until Virginia went back in front on a Miclat double in the top of the seventh. Woodard got two quick outs in the inning, but walked Cannon and allowed a single by Mike Mitchell to put two on with two out. Miclat then doubled to right center off reliever Rob Wooten, and Cannon just beat the throw to the plate by Williams to give UVa a 2-1 lead.
Trailing 2-1 in the eighth, the Tar Heels rallied to tie the game on a two-out single to center by designated hitter Tim Fedroff. After Federowicz bunted into a double play, Ackley started the rally with his fourth hit of the day and moved to third on a single through the right side by Williams on a hit-and-run. Fedroff then came through with the game-tying hit off UVa reliever Rule.
The Tar Heels and Cavaliers will conclude the series with a doubleheader beginning at noon Sunday.
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