March 24, 1999

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - Jarrett Shearin tied a school record with five runs scored and took over second place in University of North Carolina annals in career RBI as the Tar Heels defeated Towson, 14-2, Wednesday afternoon at Boshamer Stadium.

The Tigers did not score until the top of the eighth inning, breaking a 20-inning scoreless streak for Carolina's pitching staff. UNC did not allow a run in the final five innings of Sunday's win over Wake Forest, shutout Towson on no hits Tuesday and did not allow a run in the first seven innings of Wednesday's contest.

With the win, Carolina's 30th consecutive home non-conference victory, UNC improved to 22-2 on the season. Towson fell to 5-4.

Shearin went 4-for-5 with five runs scored, a home run and two RBI in the contest. His five runs tied the school record for runs in a game set by B.J. Surhoff versus Davidson in 1985 and tied by current UNC catcher Dan Moylan last season versus Campbell. With his two RBI, Shearin has 188 career runs batted in and moved past Pete Kumiega (1980-83) for second place in the school record books. Devy Bell (1984-87) holds the school record with 192.

Michael Horney (2-0) pitched 3.1 scoreless innings in a predetermined staff day for the UNC pitching staff to pick up the victory. Three other Tar Heel pitchers contributed to the victory. Colin McGonigal (1-1) gave up five earned runs in 4.0 innings to take the loss.

The Tar Heels scored the game's first runs in the bottom of the second. Shearin led off the inning and reached when he was hit by a McGonigal pitch. Ryan Earey followed with a single that sent Shearin to third. Matt McCay's sacrifice fly drove in Shearin and sent Earey to third. Earey then scored when he stole second and scored on a trhowing error by Towson catcher Dan Rhodes.

Carolina added two more runs in the third when Moylan led off the inning with a walk and scored when Chris LaMarsh hit into a double play. Shearin followed with a solo home run, his third of the season, just inside the leftfield foul pole.

Towson threatened in the top of the fifth when Mike Dubansky hit a leadoff triple down the rightfield line. UNC reliever Jay Madeira got out of the jam, however, getting the next three Tiger hitters to ground out, pop out and pop out, stranding Dubansky at third.

In the bottom of the fifth, Shearin took over second place in UNC history in career RBI when he drove in Moylan with a single. After stealing second and third, Shearin scored on a throwing error by Rhodes.

Carolina batted around and scored six runs in the bottom of the seventh on three singles and five walks. Rob Miano hit a two-run single in the inning.

Towson scored two runs in the top of the eighth on a walk, an RBI double by Rhodes and an RBI single by Mike Dubansky.

Carolina returns to action this weekend when it play three-game series at Florida State beginning Friday night.