White Ks 12; Heels use big 6th inning to defeat ECU
North Carolina pitcher Alex White struck out 12 East Carolina batters and the Tar Heels opened up a close game with a seven-run 6th inning to defeat the Pirates 10-1 in the first of a best-of-three Super Regional game in Chapel Hill. (6/6)
The victory leaves UNC a game away from its fourth consecutive visit to the NCAA World Series. But ECU had other plans as Brandon Henderson rapped a solo homer to give the Pirates an early 1-0 lead.
In the third, UNC freshman Seth Baldwin drove in the tying run and Kyle Seager singled in the go-ahead run.
Down 2-1 in the 6th, the Pirates got the first two men on base before White struck out one batter and got another to ground into a double play to end the threat.
In the bottom of the 6th, Carolina used both bloop singles and hard liners (as well as a shakey ECU defense) to plate seven runs on seven hits to open it up 9-1. Garrett Gore and Levi Michael each contributed two-run singles during the inning.
Seager added a solo homer in the 8th to end the scoring. Carolina collected 17 hits on the day compared to nine for ECU. White, who had a career-high 12 strikeouts, went eight and a third innings in what will probably be the last time he plays at Boshamer Stadium.
UNC advances to 46-16 while ECU falls to 46-19.
Adam Warren (8-2), who has been the Tar Heels' most consistent pitcher this season, goes in game two Sunday at noon. A win sends Carolina to the World Series while a loss forces a game 3 against ECU on Monday.
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