March 2, 2007

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CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - All-America shortstop Josh Horton went 4-for-4 with one of North Carolina's season-best four home runs, and senior right-hander Robert Woodard posted a career-high eight strikeouts over six innings to lead the No. 1 Tar Heels to an 8-4 win over Penn State Friday at Boshamer Stadium. Carolina extended its season-opening winning streak to 10 games for its best start since 2001.

Rookies Dustin Ackley and Drew Poulk each homered early on, and Horton and sophomore Tim Federowicz followed with back-to-back solo shots in the fifth for the Tar Heels (10-0). Horton had his sixth career four-hit game, his first this season, and added two RBI and two runs scored. Ackley had his first three-RBI game and now has driven in a team-high 14 runs on the year.

Woodard (3-0) won his eighth straight decision after allowing eight hits and just one earned run over six innings. He still has not issued a walk on the season in 19 2/3 innings and has struck out 18. Woodard is now 26-3 in his career for a school-record .897 winning percentage. The eight strikeouts bettered his previous mark of seven set on six occasions, including his first start this year against Seton Hall.

Seth Whitehill (0-2) took the loss for Penn State after allowing seven runs on seven hits, including all four home runs, in five innings. He walked four and struck out two. Mike Cavagnaro, Joe Blackburn and Scott Gaffney each had two hits for the Nittany Lions (1-4).

Ackley's three-run home run in the first capped a two-out rally to give the Tar Heels an early lead. Horton got things started with a single through the right side, and a free pass to Federowicz put two on for Ackley, who roped an 0-1 offering from Whitehill out to right center for his first career homer.

After Penn State trimmed the lead to one in the top of the fourth, Carolina's freshmen struck again to help the Tar Heels regain their three-run cushion. Second baseman Kyle Seager laced a double into the left field corner, and Poulk followed with his fourth home run of the season to give Carolina a 5-2 lead after four.

The Tar Heels tacked on two more in the fifth on the back-to-back homers from Horton and Federowicz, who each went deep for the first time this year. Horton sent a 2-2 pitch into the trees beyond right field, and Fedrowicz followed on the next pitch with a shot well over the left field wall. Carolina last hit back-to-back home runs April 9, 2006 at Miami when Reid Fronk and Chad Flack each homered. Federowicz's homer extended his current hitting streak to five games.

Horton also drove in the Tar Heels' final run of the day with a single through right side in the sixth. Seth Williams delivered a pinch-hit single and stole second before Horton singled for his fourth and final hit of the day.

Penn State added two runs in the ninth against the Carolina bullpen on four walks and a sacrifice fly, but freshman lefty Rob Catapano came on to get the final out and pick up his first career save.

The series continues at 1 p.m. Saturday and Sunday with Alex White and Luke Putkonen set to start the next two games for the Tar Heels.