UNC evens up the series with Miami

While the first game of the series between the Tar Heels and the Hurricanes did not go as Carolina had planned or liked, the second one certainly did. Second ranked North Carolina (44-10, 21-7 in the ACC) took control of the game early on and cruised to a 10-6 win over top ranked Miami (43-7, 23-4 in the ACC). With the final game coming early this afternoon the pressure is on for both teams to win the rubber match. And you have to wonder if with the top three teams in baseball if the ACC should be the clear favorite to win the College World Series this year.

Pitching for the Tar Heels was Adam Warren (8-1) who kept the opponents off the scoreboard for the first four innings and then finished his stint on the mound after 5.1 innings giving up 4 runs on four hits and two walks. Warren also struck out seven Hurricanes. Warren was replaced by Brian Moran, who in 2.1 innings allowed one run on three hits and no walks, while leaving five Miami players at the plate. Rob Wooten came in for the last 1.1 inning of the game, giving up one run himself on two hits and giving up two walks as well.

The Heels bats were very good in this game, getting 16 base hits on the day. Leading the way were Dustin Ackley (3 for 4, 1 RBI and 1 run), Tim Federoff (3 for 5, 2 RBIs and 2 runs) and Kyle Seager (3 for 4, 1 run). Seth Williams had two hits (2 for 5) but drove in 3 runs and scored 2 himself. Garret Gore and Tim Federowicz both had two hits in the game combining for 1 RBI and 3 runs. The last Heel to get a hit was Chad Flack, who went 1 for 5 with one RBI.

The Heels, just like in the first game, took the early lead, scoring three runs in the top of the second with two outs on the scoreboard. But unlike the first game Miami didn't react, and the Heels scored once again with three runs in the top of the fourth, thanks mainly to back to back singles, a sac bunt and an RBI double. UNC then scored another single run in the fifth and two more in the sixth (thanks in part to a homer by Federoff), making the tally 9-0 before the Hurricanes reacted. The home team scored 4 runs in the bottom of the sixth and after a scoreless seventh the Heels scored their 10th run in the top of the eighth. Miami would score once in the bottom of the eighth and once in the bottom of the ninth, but it would just not be enough and the Heels would take the game by the score of 10 to 6.

Today at 1 p.m. EST the series will conclude and the team that wins this game might just be the top team in the country when the new rankings come out. For the Tar Heels, the frosh hurler Matt Harvey will start in what might be the biggest game of his young career.