2009 ACC Baseball Championship: Virginia Explodes In Third to Down North Carolina, 11-1
Cavaliers' 10-run inning, Hultzen's pitching too much for Tar Heels.



May 22, 2009

 

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    • DURHAM, N.C. (the ACC.com) -- Virginia roughed up North Carolina’s All-ACC starting pitcher Alex White in a 10-run third inning Friday night en route to an 11-1 win over the Tar Heels, and put themselves in position to reach the title game of the 2009 ACC Baseball Championship.

    Virginia knocked the Tar Heels out with a third-inning offensive explosion of historic proportions in front of 6,319 fans at the Durham Bulls Athletic Park.

    Shortstop Tyler Cannon opened the bottom of the third with a double off White (L, 7-4). He came home on a single by catcher Franco Valdes. After a fly to center, the Cavaliers connected on three straight singles -- the last an RBI shot by first baseman John Hicks. Virginia ended up sending 15 batters to the plate in the frame.

    Before reliever Brian Moran could finally end the inning, Virginia had turned nine hits and three walks into 10 runs -- the Cavs’ biggest inning since a 2001 victory over Penn State. It was White’s shortest outing since the 2007 College World Series and the eight runs charged to him were the most the junior right-hander has surrendered in his career. The 10 runs allowed were the most UNC had given up in an inning since a 1998 loss to Florida State.

    Virginia’s All-ACC pitcher Danny Hultzen (W, 8-1) tossed a strong six and a third innings, allowing one run on five hits. Reliever Robert Poutier closed down the Tar Heels.

    UNC scored its only run in the fifth, when second baseman Levi Michael blasted his 13th home run of the season over the Blue Monster in left.

    The game ended in the 8th inning when Cavalier Scott Silverstein drew walk-off walk on a full count to give Virginia the 11-1 as the 10-run rule is in effect during the ACC Championship.

    The sixth-seeded Cavaliers (41-12-1) can clinch a spot in Sunday’s championship game with a win over Duke on Saturday night. North Carolina (42-15) can still advance to the championship game with a win over Clemson at 4 p.m. Saturday and a Blue Devil win over Virginia. If both the Cavs and Tar Heels lose Saturday, Duke would advance to meet Florida State in the title game.

    Notes

  • This was the shortest outing of teh season for UNC’s starting pitcher Alex White. He went 2.1 and allowed 8 runs, all earned
  • On the 10-run third inning...
    ...most runs allowed by UNC this year.
    ...most runs scored by Virginia this season.
    ...most runs scored by Virginia since 2001 against Penn State.
    ...ALL nine Cavaliers scored (15 came to the plate).
  • The evocation of the 10-run rule came for the fifth time since the implementation of the rule in 2005. The last instance came on May 26, 2006 when Florida State downed Virginia 11-0 in seven innings.
  • The total attendance for the first nine games of the Championship is 24,277.
  • There have been 13 home runs hit in the six games of the ACC Baseball Championship. None have hit the famous “Durham Bull.” However, Virginia’s John Hicks hit a home run off the clouds on the lower left portion of the sign on Thursday night but did not hit the bull proper.
  • Game nine’s duration of 2:39 was the second shortest of this year’s Championship. The average game duration this year is 2:54

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