University of North Carolina Athletics
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No. 4 Tar Heels Fall To No. 11 NC State, 3-1
March 24, 2012 | Baseball
March 24, 2012
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - Sophomore Kent Emanuel suffered his first loss in more than a year Saturday afternoon as the No. 4 North Carolina Tar Heels dropped a 3-1 decision to No. 11 NC State at Boshamer Stadium. The Wolfpack scored three unearned runs against the Tar Heel starter and held on for the series opening win.
Junior Cody Stubbs connected on his second home run of the year for one of his two hits on the day, while Chaz Frank and Mike Zolk each registered a pair of hits in the defeat.
Emanuel went 6.2 innings allowing three runs on five hits but was let down by his defense as all three runs were unearned. The Woodstock, Ga., native struck out four and walked a pair in his first loss since a defeat at Wake Forest on March 13, 2011, snapping a 12-game winning streak.
Emanuel was staked to a 1-0 lead in the fourth when Stubbs connected on the first pitch he saw from NC State starter Ethan Ogburn and sent a ball well over the right center field fence for a solo home run.
NC State evened things up in the top of the sixth when Jake Fincher opened the inning with a lead off single. A misplayed sacrifice bunt by Emanuel put runners on first and second before a successful sacrifice moved a pair in scoring position.
Andrew Ciencin grounded out to shortstop to plate a run and tie the game at 1-1 before Emanuel worked out of further trouble by forcing another ground out to end the inning.
Carolina looked to have the answer in the bottom half of the sixth as the Tar Heels loaded the bases with a two-out rally thanks to a double from Stubbs and an infield single by Michael Russell. However, the Tar Heels were unable to come up with the key hit as Parks Jordan grounded out to the shortstop to end the threat.
The Wolfpack took advantage of another Tar Heel error in the seventh when Matt Bergquist reached with one out which lead to NC State loading the bases for catcher Brett Austin. The freshman drove the first pitch he saw into left field to plate two runs before Chris McCue came on to get the final two outs of the inning.
McCue allowed only one hit over 2.1 innigs of work out of the bullpen striking out three batters and keeping the Tar Heels within striking distance.
The Tar Heels managed just two hits off of left-hander D.J. Thomas out of the bullpen as Thomas claimed the win to take the series opener.
Game two of the series is set for 2 p.m. Sunday as junior right-hander Chris Munnelly will take the mound for UNC and NC State will counter with freshman left-hander Carlos Rodon.
