March 21, 2008

Box Score

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - A two-run home run in the fifth inning by Maryland third baseman Mike Murphy proved to be the difference in a 4-2 loss for No. 3 North Carolina Friday at Shipley Field. The Tar Heels (16-4, 5-2 ACC) outhit the Terrapins (11-9, 2-5 ACC) by a 10-5 margin but managed a season-low two runs against Maryland starter Scott Swinson, who went eight innings.

Swinson (3-2) struck out seven and held Carolina to only two runs on nine hits and two walks. Maryland then turned to closer Matt Quinn, who allowed a leadoff double in the ninth, but set down the next three batters to record his third save. Murphy, who went 2-for-4 with two RBI, was the only Terp with more than one hit on the night.

UNC starter Alex White (3-2) went 5 2/3 innings and allowed four runs, just one of which was earned, on five hits and two walks. He struck out two but also committed a throwing error that opened the door for three Maryland runs in the fifth. Lefty Brian Moran tossed 2 1/3 shutout innings in relief and matched a career high with four strikeouts.

Third baseman Chad Flack went 3-for-4 with a double, and second baseman Kyle Seager, catcher Tim Federowicz and center fielder Seth Williams added two hits apiece for Carolina. Seager doubled twice to extend his career-best hitting streak to 16 games, and Federowicz connected on his third home run in the sixth.

After the Tar Heels stranded runners on the corners in the top of the fifth, Maryland took advantage of the throwing error by White to grab a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the inning. Center fielder Nick Jowers doubled to start the rally and scored when shortstop Joe Palumbo pushed a bunt toward the mound that White fielded and threw into left field in attempt to get the lead runner at third base. After White settled down to get two outs, Murphy hit his sixth home run of the season to straightaway center for a three-run lead.

Carolina answered immediately with two in the top of the sixth to trim the lead to just a run. Federowicz belted a one-out home run to left center off Swinson, and Seager doubled to right field and scored from second on an RBI single to center by Williams.

The Terps got one of the runs back in the bottom of the inning, as left fielder Gerry Spessard walked, moved to third on a fielder's choice and a wild pitch and scored on a sacrifice fly to right by Jowers for a 4-2 lead.

Trailing by two runs in the eighth, Carolina put a pair in scoring position after an Ackley single and Williams double, but Swinson got Mark Fleury to fly out to center to end the threat and preserve the 4-2 advantage.

Flack led off the ninth with his third of the night - a double down the left field line - but was stranded at second as Carolina saw its six-game winning streak snapped.

The three-game series continues at 4 p.m. Saturday and 1 p.m. Sunday.