CHAPEL HILL, N.C. ? #1 North Carolina scratched across single runs in the second, fifth and seventh innings then posted a three-run rally in the eighth to score a 6-0 win over VMI on Saturday at Boshamer Stadium.
Carolina senior starter Adam Warren (1-0) picked up the win, allowing only two hits while striking out six in five innings of work for the top-ranked Tar Heels (2-0). VMI senior Chris Henderson (0-1) scattered seven hits in working 6.1 innings, allowing three runs, two earned, in taking the loss.
The Tar Heels took advantage of a fielding error in scoring their first run, as a base hit by Ben Bunting preceded a two-base error by VMI left fielder Brian Sandridge. Bunting came in to score on a ground out by Tarron Robinson to give Warren a 1-0 advantage in the second inning.
Carolina doubled the margin in the fifth, following a leadoff single by Ryan Graepel. A sacrifice bunt and a base knock moved the junior shortstop to third base. Henderson settled down from there, setting down the next four batters he faced, despite allowing Graepel to score on a Dustin Ackley ground out in the next at bat.
The Keydets strung together a rally in the seventh off reliever Patrick Johnson. After a pair of strikeouts to begin the frame, Alex Haitsuka doubled down the right field line. Freshman Jacob Morley followed with a single through the right side, but Haitsuka was thrown out at the plate by right fielder Garrett Gore in VMI's best scoring chance of the afternoon.
The momentum stayed with the Tar Heels, as Robinson led off the bottom of the frame with a triple into left-center field. Henderson rebounded to induce a foul pop-out, but then walked leadoff hitter Mike Cavasinni, spelling the end of the senior's afternoon. Freshman reliever Alan Watts came on to get Levi Michael to fly out to center field, however, the ball ran deep enough to score Robinson from third base, giving Carolina a 3-0 advantage.
Carolina pieced together a two-out rally in the eighth, doubling the margin to 6-0. A pinch-hit double by Brett Thomas brought home two runs, before Thomas scored on a two-bagger from Graepel.
Graepel and Kyle Seager were the only hitters in the game to notch multiple hits for either side. The Keydets got doubles from Haitsuka and senior A.J. Yoder to account for two of the team's four hits on the afternoon.
The teams wrap up the three-game set on Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m.
