Top-ranked Canes dominated by second-ranked Tar Heels
The top-ranked Miami Hurricanes got their first hit in the fifth inning, surrendered two unearned runs when a routine grounder went under their best fielder's glove and gave up 16 hits.
A strange night, indeed.
But for second-ranked North Carolina, Friday's 10-6 victory proved a salve of sorts. After being overwhelmed by the Hurricanes on Thursday, the Tar Heels responded with some damage of their own.
''We had a chip on our shoulders, especially after last night,'' said UNC center fielder Seth Williams, who doubled twice and drove in three runs. ``We were embarrassed. You can't do that against the No. 1 team in the nation. We played more like the No. 2 team tonight.''
The 10 runs were the most allowed by Miami this season at Mark Light Field, where a standing-room-only crowd of 3,250 waited in vain for a last-gasp rally. The Hurricanes ended the game with the bases loaded, when Mark Sobolewski, who hit a grand slam earlier, tapped a weak ground ball to the first baseman.
''I swung at a bad pitch and it was a check swing,'' Sobolewski said. ``But we didn't lose this game in the last inning. We just didn't play well.''
Miami sophomore left-hander Eric Erickson came into the game with a 7-0 record and 3.31 ERA, but had his worst outing since giving up six earned runs to Louisville during last year's season-ending regional loss.
Erickson (7-1, 3.79) lasted five innings, allowing seven runs -- five earned -- and 10 hits, a wild pitch and a hit batsmen. He struck out two and walked none.
''Frustrating night,'' Erickson said. ``Kind of reminds me of Louisville.
``Hopefully this is as bad as it gets.''
While Erickson was struggling, Tar Heels starter Adam Warren was thriving. Warren, a junior right-hander, raised his record to 8-1 by holding UM to four runs and four hits, including Sobolewski's grand slam in the sixth.
Sobolewski's shot over the left-field wall came after singles by Blake Tekotte and Jemile Weeks and a walk by Yonder Alonso.
Alonso hit his 18th home run of the season, tops in the Atlantic Coast Conference, in the eighth to make it 10-5, but in the end, it wasn't enough.
Miami (43-7, 23-4) will end the regular season against North Carolina at 1 p.m. Saturday with the highest ACC winning percentage, though the league does not name a regular-season conference champion.
''They outplayed us offensively and defensively and outpitched us,'' UM coach Jim Morris said. ``They have an outstanding club. If you don't play your best you're not going to win.''
North Carolina, led by Williams, raised its records to 44-10 and 21-7.
Said Morris of Saturday's finale: ``We need to come back, no question.''
UM's usually stellar defense proved vulnerable Friday, allowing two unearned runs when a routine grounder went under shortstop Ryan Jackson's glove with two outs in the second inning.
Tim Federowicz started the rally with a single to left, Garrett Gore singled to right and Williams doubled into the left-field corner to score Federowicz. Greg Holt's grounder-turned-error drove in Gore and Williams to make it 3-0.
The Heels got another three runs in the fourth on a single by Kyle Seager, a blooper to shallow center by Federowicz, a sacrifice bunt by Gore and a double into the left-field corner by Williams -- at the same spot in which he had doubled the previous inning. Then, two batters later, Dustin Ackley hit yet another double into the same left-field corner to score Williams and make it 6-0.
Catcher Federowicz hit a three-run homer to left field in the sixth to make it 9-0 and effectively shut down the Hurricanes.
The Hurricanes broke a no-hitter in the fifth, when Dennis Raben led off with a single to left.
