04-21-2007, 08:59 PM
Quote:UNC 000 004 000 4 5 2
FSU 101 120 00X 5 6 1
W - Marshall (2-0) L - White (4-3) S - Rosen (7)
Seminoles make it two in a row over UNC
by Drew Hankin
Despite giving up four runs in the sixth inning, the #1 ranked Florida State Seminoles beat #2 North Carolina on Saturday 5-4 to ensure their sixth ACC series win of the season. Outfielders Ohmed Danesh and Jack Rye both hit home runs to lead the Tribe offensively, while strong relief work by Jimmy Marshall, Travis Burge, and Danny Rosen kept Carolina's bats at bay.
Michael Hyde started the game for FSU, but was lifted with one out in the fourth inning after walking the first two batters he faced. Marshall came finished the inning, but not before loading the bases with a walk. He also threw a scoreless fifth, and earned his second win of the season. Matt Fairel and Brian Chambers combined for the four run sixth, but Burge and Rosen combined to retire the final nine batters of the game. Rosen picked up his second save in two games, and seventh this season.
Florida State got their typical first inning run when Tony Thomas Jr led off with a walk, went to third on an errant pickoff throw, and scored when Mark Hallberg hit into a fielder's choice that gave the Seminoles a 1-0 lead.
After a scoreless second, Hallberg led off the third inning with his eighth double of the season, moved to third on a sacrifice bunt by Buster Posey, and scored on a Rye sacrifice fly to left-center.
Danesh made it 3-0 in the bottom of the fourth with his first career home run which sailed over the right field screen.
Thomas led off the next inning with a double to center and went to third on a Hallberg sacrifice bunt. Rye then powered his sixth homer of the season over the screen to give FSU a 5-0 lead which was key, since the Tar Heels came back to score four in the next inning before the Seminole bullpen shut them down the rest of the way.
Florida State is now 37-5 and 15-2 in the Atlantic Coast Conference while North Carolina fell to 32-9 and 13-7. The Heels have now lost 16 of the last 17 games they've played in Tallahassee. The Noles will get their shot at a sweep on Sunday at 12:30 with Ryan Strauss (8-0, 2.44 ERA) on the mound against Luke Putkonen (5-1, 3.43 ERA) for Carolina.
Section B Online Player of the Game:
Jack Rye (1-3, 1 R, 3 RBI, HR, SF)