UNC BASEBALL: HEELS WIN ANOTHER SERIES 2-1 AT THE BOSH
This time compliments of the USC Trojans the Diamond Heels win another home series in the beginning of the season.
UNC has continued their onslaught of runs and stellar pitching to give fans a reason to come out despite the weather. Too bad Southern Cal didn’t bring their warm temperatures with them east as the weekend was a cold one.
Kent Emanuel was once again the series opening Ace and looked every bit the part.
Game 1 was Emanuel’s best outing thus far. Kent opened the game striking out the side showing the Trojans lineup it would be a long day. He escaped a bases loaded jam in the top half of the third that would be his only struggles through his time in the game. Leaving the game after pitching 6 innings, the UNC Ace would strike out eight, give up no runs and only 6 hits.
Once again Kent Emanuel looked terrific overall. USC has several MLB caliber hitters in their lineup and it was evident Emanuel stepped his game up for the occasion. His record moves to 3-0 on the season as he continues to extend his streak of decisions won at 10.
The UNC lineup would also look as though they had several MLB hitters currently stepping to the plate for them.
It seems like the Diamond Heels are poised to score 10 plus runs going into every game. Game 1 of the Trojan series was no different. Colin Moran and Cody Stubbs would both hit Home Runs combining for 5 RBIs. Junior Center-fielder Chaz Frank would add two RBIs while the UNC lineup would put on another show compliments of opposing pitchers.
UNC appeared more than ready for the number 21 ranked USC Trojans as they would win Game 1 by a score of 11-1.
Game 2 on Saturday would not see too many positives for USC either overall when it was all said and done. More greatness for Diamond Heel fans though.
Game 2 would see the two teams settle down tremendously and each bullpen would ultimately show up in a positive way for both. It was evident after 7 strong innings by both teams that the game would be decided by whose bullpen let them down first.
Fitting it was the Senior leader behind the plate Jacob Stallings who would make sure it was the Trojans bullpen that failed them first. He would single home the only run of the game in the bottom of the eighth setting up the save for UNCs young version of Jonathon Papelbon. Pretty much anytime the Junior from Kansas Michael Morin comes in everyone knows what time it is as he got save number two of the year.
Game 2 would see 6 different Tar Heel pitchers face 35 USC batters and walk only 3 and give up 4 hits combined. Junior righty Chris Munnelly most definitely stood out throwing 7 strong innings of shutout baseball giving up no runs to extend the Heels winning streak to 7 Games.
Unfortunately for UNC fans(and Im sure Head Coach Mike Fox as well) the winning streak would end at 7 in Game 3.
The Heels would strike first and last but those measly two runs produced would not be enough to end the series with another sweep. UNC bats went cold on Sunday as they would combined for only 7 hits and 2 runs. Stubbs would get the only RBI for the Heels with the only other run coming on a wild pitch by the Trojan Freshman Left Hander Stephen Tarpley.
The only positive mite have been in the UNC bullpen. With the Sophomore lefty from Rocky Mount Hobbs Johnson coming in and retiring every USC batter he faced. Johnson sat down eleven Trojans with five being strikeouts.
USC Game 3 DH Kevin Roundtree and the only guy from Rancho Cucamonga on the Trojan roster catcher Jake Hernandez would combine for 4 of the five RBIs accumulated. Thus far, they may have been two of the most successful individual batters against UNCs pitching staff so credit them for just one Game 3 victory in their series at the Bosh.
UNC fell to 8-2 overall on the season heading into a Tuesday March 6, 2012 match-up with in-state rival Davidson.
*BONUS*
The Wildcats from Davidson North Carolina may have had upset on their mind head to the Bosh on Chapel Hill.
But they did have to play the game, and unfortunately for them and all of their fans who made the trip they lost a heart-breaker.
Once again though, lets not forget this is KIH and that is great news for Diamond Heel fans.
Davidson would strike first off of Freshman Luis Paula scoring one run in the top of the first inning.
Heels would strike back and lead 4-2 after 3 innings. Cody Stubbs once again was smashing the cover off the ball hitting his nation leading eleventh double.
The game would be tied heading into the bottom half of the eighth after Davidson fought back in the sixth.
Too many smart at-bats for Carolina and too much of not so smart pitching for the Wildcats would favor the Heels. An intentional walk to Sophomore Parks Jordan would load the bases with only one out in the bottom of the eighth. Fellow Sophomore Tom Zengel followed and got a hold of one to plate Jacob Stallings for the sacrifice and eventual winning run.
Potential “Stopper of the Year” in college baseball Michael Morin would come in to get his third save of the season retiring the side in order to end the game.
Up next UNC travels not too far from home for their first true road game to take on the Elon Phoenix in Elon, NC at Latham Park. Freshman Benton Moss will get the start for the Diamond Heels as they look to continue their dominating ways.
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