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Vote now: Piggy's BBQ MVP of the UNC series
For the second time this weekend,
fourth-ranked Florida State (15-4, 3-3 ACC) scored two runs in the
eighth and twice more in the ninth to secure its first series win in
Chapel Hill since 2000 as the Seminoles defeated 17th-ranked North
Carolina (15-6, 2-4 ACC) 5-3 on Sunday afternoon inside Boshamer
Stadium.
With the Seminoles trailing 3-1 heading into the eighth, sophomore
Sherman Johnson ignited the come-from-behind victory with a solo shot to
right center off UNC reliever Greg Holt.
The Tampa, Fla., native took a 2-2 pitch from Greg Holt and hit a line
drive over the wall in right center for his third round tripper of the
season. After a walk to Justin Gonzalez, UNC skipper Mike Fox went to
the bullpen and called on Nate Striz (0-1). On the second offering from
Striz, Sean Gilmartin went opposite field sneaking a double inside the
bag at third as the ball rolled into the corner scoring Gonzalez from
first and tying the game at 3-3.
Stephen Cardullo led off the ninth with a single through the right side
and took second on his team-leading fifth stolen base of the season. A
base hit by Mike McGee moved Cardullo within 90 feet of scoring. After a
Tar Heel pitching change, James Ramsey stepped in and hit a chopper
through the right side off R.C. Orlan plating Cardullo for the Seminoles
first lead of the ball game. With the bases loaded and one out, Gonzalez
gave the Noles a two-run lead sending a fly ball to left deep enough to
score McGee for a 5-3 lead.
Brian Busch, who pitched six innings in relieve, recorded the first out
in the ninth retiring Brian Goodwin on a deep fly to right that Ramsey
hauled in on the warning track. After issuing a walk to Ryan Graepel,
Martin called on Mike McGee to close the game. The junior right hander
gave up his first base hit of the season to the first batter that he
faced as Mike Cavasinni hit a base hit back up the middle. With runners
at first and second, McGee got Dillion Hazlett swinging on strikes for
the second out of the inning.
The Tar Heels refused to go away quietly as pinch hitter Seth Baldwin
drew a walk to load the bases. But on a 1-1 pitch, McGee got Ben Bunting
to ground into a fielder’s choice put out at second for the final out of
the inning and his second save of the weekend.
Busch earned the win on Sunday moving to 3-0 on the year. The sophomore
southpaw shut down the Tar Heels over six innings of work allowing just
one hit as the lone hit came with one out in the fourth. After hitting
Bunting with a pitch to start the fifth, Busch retired 13 straight UNC
batters before giving up a one out walk in the ninth.
Cardullo recorded a game-high three hits, while Tyler Holt, McGee and
Johnson each registered two hits a piece. The Seminoles finished the
game out hitting the Tar Heels 13-4.
The series victory for the Seminoles is the second straight over the Tar
Heels and first in Chapel Hill since the Garnet and Gold took 2-of-3
back in 2000.
FSU starter Geoff Parker went 2.1 innings on Sunday allowing three runs
on two hits. It marked his shortest outing of the season and shortest
start since working 1.1 innings against Boston College back on March 7,
2009.
The Tar Heels loaded the bases in the second courtesy of three walks
issued by Parker. The walks would come back to haunt the junior right
hander as UNC first baseman Dillion Hazlett cleared the bases with a
three-run double to the gap in right center to give the Tar Heels an
early 3-0 lead.
Florida State left a pair of runners stranded in the third after the
first two batters reached on back-to-back base hits. Rafael Lopez led
off the inning with a single to right center and moved to second on a
beautiful bunt base hit by Holt. But that was as far as the Seminoles
would advance as UNC starter Patrick Johnson got Cardullo to foul out on
a bunt and recorded back-to-back strikeouts to keep the UNC lead at
three.
Parker faced the first three batters before Martin went to the pen and
brought on Brian Busch. With Carolina runners at first and third and one
out, Busch got Goodwin swinging on strikes and Graepel to fly out to
center to keep the deficit at three.
The Seminoles finally broke through with a run in the fifth on an RBI
single to right by Cardullo. FSU put together a one-out rally as three
consecutive Seminole batters reached on a walk to Lopez, a single to
center by Holt and Cardullo’s RBI single to right.
Florida State loaded the bases with no outs in the sixth and came away
empty handed. Consecutive base hits by Stuart Tapley and Johnson to
start the inning ended the afternoon for Patrick Johnson. Greg Holt came
on in relief and after walking Gonzalez to load the bases, got Gilmartin
to ground into a fielder’s choice put out at home. Holt then got Lopez
to ground into an inning ending double play to maintain UNC’s 3-1 lead.
Johnson pitched a gem for the Tar Heels allowing just one run on seven
hits as he walked two and struck out six in earning a no decision.
The Seminoles return home to face Stetson on Wednesday, March 24. First
pitch is slated for 6:00 p.m. on Mike Martin Field inside Dick Howser
Stadium. Fans can listen in locally on 1270 the Team and 94.3 FM and on
the web at Seminoles.com.
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