Feb. 20, 2009
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CHAPEL HILL, N.C. -
Garrett Gore and Mark Fleury each drove in three runs as No. 1 North Carolina broke open a tight game with a six-run fifth inning to claim a 13-3 win over VMI Friday at Bryson Field at Boshamer Stadium. All-America right-hander Alex White opened the Tar Heels' brand-new facility in style with nine strikeouts over five innings to record his 20th career victory.
Carolina (1-0) pounded out 16 hits and 13 runs for its biggest opening day offensive output since 2003. Gore went 3-for-5 with three RBI, while Fleury was 3-for-4 with three RBI. Fleury's three hits and three RBI matched career highs. Every Tar Heel starter hit safely on the afternoon.
All-America Dustin Ackley was 3-for-4 with an RBI and combined with freshman Levi Michael to reach base seven times on the afternoon to set the table for the middle of the order. Ackley extended his 14-game hitting streak dating to last season with the first base hit in the new facility.
White (1-0) fanned eight through three innings and recorded six straight outs via the strikeout at one point. He struck out the side in both the first and second innings and finished with just one walk against the nine Ks. The Greenville product scattered eight hits and allowed three runs.
Relievers Jimmy Messer, Brian Moran, Nate Striz, Ryan Leach and Greg Holt combined for four scoreless innings out of the bullpen, as the Tar Heels struck out 17 Keydet batters in the game.
VMI starter Travis Smink (0-1) allowed six runs (five earned) over 4 1/3 innings. Jordan Ballard hit a solo home run and was one of four Keydets (0-1) with two hits on the afternoon.
After White fanned the side in the first, the Tar Heels scratched out the first run in their new home in the bottom of the inning. Michael was hit by a pitch, took second on an infield single by Ackley and crossed the plate on an RBI single through the left side from Gore for a 1-0 UNC lead.
Carolina took advantage of a fielding miscue by VMI center fielder David Lottman to extend the lead to four in the third. Back-to-back singles from Michael and Ackley started the rally, and a fielder's choice off the bat of Kyle Seager put runners on the corners for Gore.
The Wilmington native then laced his second single of the afternoon to center to drive in Michael, and Lottman misplayed the ball to allow Seager to score from first. Fleury followed with a single to left to drive in the third run of the frame and push Carolina's lead to 4-0.
The Keydets bounced back in the top of the fourth to cut the lead in half on a solo shot to left by Ballard - the first home run in the new ballpark - and an RBI single from Alex Haitsuka after Justin Topping doubled.
Sam Roberts led off the fifth with a single and scored two batters later on a single off the bat of Tanner Biagini to bring VMI within a single run.
After White wriggled out a jam and stranded two in the fifth, the Tar Heels broke the game open with six in the bottom of the inning. Michael and Ackley started the rally once again with a consecutive walks, and Gore's third RBI single of the day plated the first run. Fleury followed with a two-run double down the right field line to push the lead to 7-3.
Ben Bunting drove in two more with a double down the left field line before Ryan Graepel laced a third straight two-bagger to left to lift the Tar Heels to a seven-run cushion through five.
Seager singled, swiped second and crossed the plate on an RBI single to left by Holt in the sixth, and the Tar Heels tacked on two more in the seventh on an RBI double from Ackley and a sacrifice fly from Seager. Graepel and Mike Cavasinni jump-started things in the seventh with back-to-back singles.
Carolina opened its new ballpark with ceremonial first pitches from Tar Heel greats Chad Flack and Robert Woodard and Boshamer project manager Mike Bunting. The opening weekend series continues with games at 1 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
