Tar Heels' Winning Streak Snapped By Penn State
March 3, 2007
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - No. 1 North Carolina saw its season-opening, 10-game winning streak snapped Saturday, as Penn State scored the winning run on a fielding error the top of the 10th inning and held on for a 3-2 victory at Boshamer Stadium. The loss also snapped the Tar Heels' 16-game home winning streak, which ranked as the second-longest run in the nation. Despite getting only four hits, Carolina (10-1) carried a 2-1 lead into the ninth and was one strike away from the win before PSU designated hitter Robert Yodice hit a game-tying solo home run off reliever Tim Federowicz. Yodice fouled off six straight pitches and forced a full count before hitting his first homer of the year out to right center. The Tar Heels, who had only one hit after the third inning, went in order in the ninth before Penn State led off the top of the 10th with back-to-back singles. Carolina closer Andrew Carignan (0-1) came back to get two outs, but All-America shortstop Josh Horton misplayed what would have been an inning-ending groundout to allow the go-ahead run to score. UNC's Kyle Seager drew a leadoff walk in the bottom of the 10th, but pinch runner Kendic Burney was stranded at third as the potential tying run. Drew O'Neil (1-0) earned the win for the Nittany Lions with two hitless innings of relief, while Penn State lefty starter Craig Clark allowed two runs on four hits over eight innings. Carolina starter Alex White struck out five and allowed one run on five hits over 6 1/3 innings. The Tar Heels scored twice in the third, as right fielder Seth Williams led off the frame with a solo home run to right, and first baseman Dustin Ackley followed with a two-out single to plate the second run. After Williams' homer, center fielder Drew Poulk reached second on a high pop up in front of the mound that the Nittany Lions let drop in between three fielders. Ackley followed with a single through the left side for a two-run UNC lead. Neither team managed much offense until Penn State (2-4) trimmed the lead in half in the top of the seventh. Third baseman Mike Deese drew a one-out walk from White and came around to score on a single through the right side by right fielder Brian Ernst that chased White from the game. Federowicz came on with two on and just one out but got out of the jam in just five pitches to preserve the lead. He went on to retire the first seven batters he faced before Yodice's game-tying home run in the ninth. The rubber game of the series is set for 1 p.m. Sunday with Carolina's Luke Putkonen on the mound against Penn State's Scott Gaffney.
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