March 11, 2008

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CARY, N.C. - First baseman Rich Witten and left fielder Chance Gilmore drove in three runs apiece to lead No. 20 Coastal Carolina to an 11-4 win over No. 3 North Carolina Tuesday at Cary's USA Baseball National Training Complex. The Chanticleers scored six times in the first inning and that was enough support for right-hander David Anderson, who allowed just three runs over 6 1/3 innings.

Anderson (3-0) scattered 10 hits and two walks but allowed just one run after the first inning for Coastal (13-1). Right-hander Joey Haug gave up one run over the final 2 2/3 innings in relief.

In addition to the three RBI efforts for Witten, who had two hits on the day, and Gilmore, right fielder Adam Rice went 3-for-4 with an RBI, and designated hitter Tommy Baldridge went 2-for-6 and drove in a run. The Tar Heels (10-3) committed a pair of two-out errors that led to eight unearned runs for the Chanticleers.

Paced by a 3-for-5, two RBI effort by second baseman Kyle Seager, UNC outhit Coastal Carolina, 13-11. First baseman Dustin Ackley and right fielder Tim Fedroff also added two hits each, and Ackley (17 games), Seager (nine games) and Fedroff (seven games) extended hitting streaks for the Tar Heels, who dropped to 1-2 after three games in Cary.

After starter Matt Harvey (1-1) went just two-thirds of an inning, five UNC relievers allowed just two earned runs the rest of the way. Right-hander Colin Bates gave up no runs on two hits and struck out two over two innings and gave way to lefty Brian Moran, who struck out three over a career-long 2 1/3 innings and allowed three unearned runs.

Coastal sent 11 men to the plate in the six-run first inning, chasing Harvey in the process. The Chanticleers had just two base hits but were aided by four walks, a hit batter and a two-out error to prolong the inning. Gilmore had the big blow, a bases-clearing, three-run double off Bates. Harvey, who gave up six runs on one hit and three walks, was charged with just one earned run.

The Tar Heels cut into the early deficit with two runs in the bottom of the inning. Ackley doubled to left and scored on a Seager single to left center, and catcher Tim Federowicz walked and crossed the plate on an RBI single to right by center fielder Seth Williams to trim the Coastal lead to 6-2.

The Chanticleers tacked on three more two-out, unearned runs in the fourth to jump out to a 9-2 advantage. A pair of walks sandwiched around Rice's third single of the day loaded the bases for third baseman Derek Martin, who hit a sharp grounder that UNC shortstop Garrett Gore misplayed, allowing two runs to score. Witten followed with a single off third base to plate the third run of the inning.

Witten's second base hit gave Coastal an eight-run cushion in the sixth. Shortstop Tyler Bortnick singled off reliever Carolina Nate Striz, stole second and scored on a single to right by Witten for his third RBI of the afternoon.

Carolina finally got back in the scoring column in the seventh when Fedroff legged out his second infield single and eventually scored on an RBI fielder's choice grounder by Ackley.

After Coastal added a single run in the top of the ninth, the Tar Heels scored their fourth and final run when Ackley singled and scored on Seager's third hit in the bottom of the inning.

Carolina is back in action Wednesday against VCU at 3 p.m. in Cary.