May 8, 2009

Box Score

RALEIGH, N.C. - NC State left-hander Jimmy Gillheeney shut out No. 1 North Carolina over seven innings to lead the Wolfpack to a 3-0 win Friday in the series-opener at Doak Field. The Tar Heels (37-12, 16-8 ACC) held State (23-27, 9-16 ACC) to just five hits but matched a season high with 12 runners left on base to snap a five-game winning streak and a run of six straight victories in ACC play.

Gillheeney (6-4) struck out a career-best 10 batters and scattered seven hits and three walks en route to the victory. Reliever Cory Mazzoni went the final two innings to earn his first save to close out UNC's first shutout loss to the Wolfpack since 1996.

The top three hitters in the Carolina order - Dustin Ackley, Garrett Gore and Ben Bunting - each had two hits, but the rest of the lineup went just 2-for-22 on the night. Ackley notched his third straight multi-hit game.

The Tar Heels, who were blanked for the second time this season, left the bases loaded in first and seventh innings and stranded runners at the corners in the fifth.

Carolina starter Alex White (6-4) went six innings and allowed three runs on five hits and a season-high-tying five walks, two of which came around to score. The Greenville All-America struck out five before giving way to Patrick Johnson, who held State hitless over the final two frames.

The Wolfpack's first hit of the night staked it to a 1-0 lead in the third. After White issued back-to-back two-out walks to Wade Moore and Kyle Wilson, Devon Cartwright legged out an infield single to shortstop, and Moore alertly scored all the way from second for the night's first run.

White managed to strand a pair of Pack runners in the fifth but was not as fortunate in the sixth when Dallas Poulk extended the NCSU lead to 3-0 with a two-run triple. Pat Ferguson singled to start the rally, Russell Wilson reached on a fielder's choice and John Gianis drew a two-out walk, before Poulk tripled past a diving Ryan Norton in left center to plate both runners.

The Tar Heels immediately threatened to get back in the game in the seventh, loading the bases for the second time on a Bunting single and two walks, but Gillheeney fanned Mark Fleury to end the inning with his 10th and final strikeout.

The series continues at 6:30 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday. Both games will air on the Tar Heel Sports Network and ACC Select.