The CBB checks in on BC-UNC Game 1

The College Baseball Blog headed to the Boston College and North Carolina doubleheader on Saturday. I only stayed for the first game of the doubleheader because of the bitter cold that is hitting New England.

Robert Woodard started for the Tar Heels and Kevin Boggan for the Eagles. Woodard only lasted four and a third innings while giving up two runs on eight hits. Woodard was not very effective in his work as he had zero strikeouts and the Boston College bats were not missing many pitches. He did not have his top of the line slider that has become his out pitch over the last few years. Kevin Boggan gave the Eagles six strong innings while giving up three runs on six hits. Boggan had a decent curveball and an effective curveball that kept the Tar Heels off balance but they were able to get the key hit unlike Boston College. Boggan was followed by freshman Michael Belfiore who went 2.2 innings while surrending three runs on five hits. Geoff Oxley got the final out of the ninth.

The Boston College Eagles continued to run themselves out of innings. In the third inning, Ryan Hutchinson reached third base with one out and subsequently picked off by Robert Woodard in a 2-1 game at that point. The next inning Boston College had Tony Sanchez and Eric Campbell get back to back singles to set up a 1st and 2nd situation with Peter Frates up to bat. Frates proceeded to lay down which went right back to Woodard who proceeded to throw Sanchez out at third base and Chad Flack just missed doubling up Frates at first base. Jett Ruiz then came up and hit a sharp groundball to the right of Josh Horton who snagged it and tossed it to Reid Fronk who made a great turn at the bag and completed the double play by making a very strong throw to Dustin Ackley at first. Boston College loaded the bases in the bottom of the ninth but were not able to bring any runners in.

The UNC Tar Heels showed a very strong lineup from top to bottom. Josh Horton hit a key three run double to blow the game wide open and provided the final 7-2 scoreline. Horton went 2-3 in the game while scoring three runs, driving in three, and walking twice. Horton really impressed me with his stellar defense and great hitting. Reid Fronk also played extremely well with many extended at bats including his triple he hit in the first innings. He went 3-5 and was only a homer shy of hitting for the cycle. Dustin Ackley looked like a solid player but only went 1-4.

The teams will be back in action on Sunday for the final game of the series.

Boston College Recap
North Carolina Recap