University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Boston College
No. 2 UNC Tops Eagles, Leads Suspended Second Game
April 7, 2007 | Baseball
April 7, 2007
Game One Box Score
Partial Game Two Box Score
CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. - No. 2 North Carolina broke open a tight game on a three-run double by All-America shortstop Josh Horton in the top of the ninth and held on for a 7-2 win over Boston College in game one of a doubleheader Saturday at Shea Field. The Tar Heels (27-5, 9-4 ACC) own a 6-1 lead in the second game, which was suspended in the top of the ninth inning due to poor lighting.
In the first game, Horton reached base four times on two hits and two walks, drove in three runs and scored two. Center fielder Seth Williams was 2-for-4 with two RBI, and left fielder Reid Fronk went 3-for-5 with a double and a triple. Second baseman Kyle Seager also had two hits.
First baseman Dustin Ackley, who is already 4-for-5 in game two, hit safely in both games to push his hitting streak to 25 games for the longest streak by a Tar Heel since Mike Stoner also hit in 25 straight in 1995. Catcher Tim Federowicz, who drove in four runs on the day, also hit safely in both games for a career-best 13-game hitting streak.
Right-hander Matt Danford (2-0) earned the game one win with 2 2/3 scoreless innings of relief, and closer Andrew Carignan came on with the bases loaded in the ninth and retired all three batters he faced to earn his eighth save.
Starter Robert Woodard was lifted with the bases loaded in the fifth and allowed two runs on eight hits and one walk over a season-low 4 1/3 innings. He remains 29-3 and will go for win No. 30 and a share of the UNC career record next weekend against Duke.
BC right-hander Kevin Boggan (2-4) worked six innings and allowed three runs on seven hits and two walks. He struck out six. Shortstop Ryan Hutchinson and catcher Tony Sanchez each had two hits to lead the Eagles (9-16-1, 4-9 ACC).
The Eagles took an early lead on a two-out RBI double from Sanchez in the first, but the Tar Heels bounced back with runs in the second and third to go in front, 2-1. Horton walked and scored on a double to left by Williams in the second, and Ackley and Horton both singled in the third before Seager singled to left to plate the go-ahead run.
Boston College tied the game in the bottom of the fifth on a sacrifice fly by left fielder Jared McGuire, but Carolina came right back to regain the lead in the top of the sixth. Horton drew his second walk of the day to lead off the inning and moved to third on a stolen base and a ground out before Williams drove in his second run of the day with a single to left center.
The Tar Heels tacked on an insurance run in the seventh when Tim Fedroff reached on a fielder's choice, moved to third on a single by Fronk and scored on a single by Federowicz to right, and Horton put the game away with his two-out, three-run double in the top of the ninth. Fronk also doubled in the rally for his third hit of the first game.
Down by five runs, the Eagles threatened in the ninth, loading the bases against UNC reliever Rob Wooten with no outs. But Carignan came on to retire the top three batters in BC's order to nail down the win and his 23rd career save.
In game two, the Tar Heels held a 6-1 lead and had the bases loaded with nobody out in the top of ninth inning when the game was suspended.
Freshman right-hander Alex White struck out 10 over seven-plus innings in the second game. He scattered six hits and four walks and allowed just one run. White had two double plays turned behind him and stranded seven BC base runners over his seven innings of work.
In addition to Ackley's four-hit effort in game two, Williams and Federowicz each have two hits, while Federowicz has three RBI.
Just as they did in game one, the Eagles took an early one-run lead in the second contest. In the third, right fielder Rob Ansten drew a one-out walk and came around to score on an RBI ground out by second baseman Barry Butera, putting Carolina in a one-run deficit.
The Tar Heels could not get much going until the sixth, when Ackley manufactured a two-run scoring rally. Fronk singled and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Williams before Ackley singled to right center to tie the game. He moved to second on the throw home and then alertly took third with no one covering the bag. Federowicz then lofted the next pitch to right field for a sac fly and a 2-1 UNC lead.
Carolina sent 10 men to the plate in the seventh and broke the game open with four runs. Catcher Benji Johnson singled and scored on a single to left by Williams for the first run of the inning. After Ackley's third hit of the game, Federowicz cleared the bases with a double to right center for a 5-1 lead. Horton was then intentionally walked, and Flack followed with a single to right, scoring Federowicz.
In the ninth, Horton doubled to lead off the inning, and back-to-back walks loaded the bases. Johnson will be up with no outs and the bases loaded when play resumes. The third and final game of the series will be played after the completion of game two Sunday.
