April 8, 2005

Final Stats

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - No. 7 North Carolina backed up seven shutout innings from starting pitcher Andrew Miller with 17 hits and 10 runs to cruise to a 10-0 victory at Shipley Field on Friday night. Miller struck out 10 and allowed just two hits in moving to 7-0 on the season, and the Tar Heels hit eight doubles, a season-high by a Maryland opponent, in the win. Maryland fell to 14-18 on the season and 4-12 in Atlantic Coast Conference play, while North Carolina improved to 25-6 overall and 9-2 in the ACC.

The Terps had four hits in the game, including two by Dan Melvin and one from Will Frazier, who tied a school record in the game with his 81st career extra-base hit.

Frazier's base hit also extended a hitting streak to 13 games, tying Truan Mehl for the team's longest streak of the season. His double off Miller in the top of the seventh gave him 52 in his career and pulled him into a tie with Paul Schager (1984-87) on the school's career extra-base hits list.

That was the only damage done to Miller, who left Frazier stranded on third base in his seventh and final inning of work. For Miller, a preseason All-America selection, it was just the sixth extra-base hit he has allowed in 57.1 innings this season.

Carolina jumped out to an early lead on Maryland starter Chris Clem, using three doubles to score three second-inning runs. Jay Cox started the Tar Heel rally with a double off the left field wall, and, after a Chad Flack walk, Josh Horton plated two runs with a ground-rule double down the left field line. The next batter, Chase Younts, lined a Clem offering into right field for Carolina's third double and third run of the inning.

The Tar Heels put an unearned run across in the top of the fifth to take a 4-0 lead, and then erupted for five more in the top of the seventh inning to take a commanding 9-0 lead.

Shortstop Josh Horton led that charge with a total of three hits and four RBI, and Matt Ellington and Jay Cox each drove two runs apiece to pace the Tar Heel offense.

Miller and reliever Andrew Carignan combined to throw Carolina's fifth shutout of the season, lowering the team's ERA to an Atlantic Coast Conference best 1.99 in the process.

The Terp offense faces the second of Carolina's All-America pitchers tomorrow when Ben Pfinsgraff (4-1, 2.68 ERA) squares off against Daniel Bard (5-2, 2.49 ERA) at 7 p.m.