March 4, 2007

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CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - Freshman first baseman Dustin Ackley went 3-for-4 in his second career three-RBI game, and sophomore right-hander Luke Putkonen struck out seven batters over 5 2/3 innings, as No. 1 North Carolina bounced back from its first loss with a 5-4 win over Penn State Sunday at Boshamer Stadium.

Ackley had consecutive RBI singles in the first, third and fifth innings to lead the Tar Heels (11-1) at the plate. Junior shortstop Josh Horton scored a season-best three runs and opened the scoring for the UNC in the first with an RBI double.

Putkonen (3-0) allowed three straight singles to open the game, but settled down and did not allow another base hit until the sixth inning. The Marietta, Ga., native retired 13 straight batters at one point and both runs allowed were unearned. He walked two, and the seven strikeouts were a season-best. Junior closer Andrew Carignan struck out two batters over the final 1 1/3 innings to earn his second save.

Right fielder Brian Ernst led the Nittany Lions (2-5) with two hits and three RBI on the day. Penn State starter Scott Gaffney (1-1) allowed five runs, just two earned, on eight hits and one walk en route to the loss.

Penn State scratched out an unearned run in the first when Putkonen, after allowing three straight singles to open the game, sent a wild pickoff attempt to third with the bases loaded. But the right-hander came back to strikeout the next three batters with runners on second and third to prevent any further damage.

Carolina bounced back in the bottom of the inning to regain the lead on RBI base hits by Horton and Ackley. Left fielder Reid Fronk started the rally with a single through the ride side and scored all the way from first on a double to left center by Horton. Ackley followed two batters later with an infield single to plate Horton from third.

Ackley came through again in the third with his second run-scoring single. Horton drew a one-out walk, moved to second on a Penn State error and scored when Ackley singled through the right side for a 3-1 UNC lead.

The Tar Heels tacked on two more in the fifth, as Horton started a two-out rally when he was awarded first base due to obstruction by Gaffney. He moved to second on a wild pitch and scored on a double to right center by catcher Tim Federowicz. Ackley followed with his third straight single to drive in Carolina's fifth run of the day and his team-high 18th of the season.

Penn State chipped away at the lead in the sixth when third baseman Mike Deese reached on an error and scored on an RBI single by Ernst, who also brought the Nittany Lions within one on a two-run single in the eighth. A walk and an infield single put two men on, and a passed ball moved them both into scoring position for Ernst, who singled off UNC reliever Matt Cox to cut the lead to 5-4.

Carignan then came on to end the eighth with a strikeout and set down the side in order in the ninth to record his 17th career save.

The Tar Heels are back in action Wednesday at 3 p.m. against Temple at Boshamer Stadium.