Harvey, Michael Lead Tar Heels Over #20 Clemson 5-3 Friday

April 23, 2010

‘; //–>

Clemson, SC –

Junior righthander Matt Harvey struck out 15 batters in a complete-game outing and Levi Michael went 3-for-4 with a homer, double, and four RBIs to lead North Carolina to a 5-3 win over #20 Clemson in front of 5,391 fans at Doug Kingsmore Stadium on Friday night. The Tar Heels, who took a 1-0 series lead, improved to 24-16 overall and 7-12 in the ACC. The Tigers dropped to 24-15 overall and 10-9 in ACC play.

Harvey (5-2) went the distance for the first time in his career to earn the win. He allowed just six hits, three runs, and one walk with a career-high 15 strikeouts in throwing 156 pitches, including 101 strikes. He also struck out nine batters looking and held the Tigers to just 1-for-11 with two outs.

Casey Harman (5-1), the first of three Tiger pitchers, suffered the loss. He allowed eight hits, five runs (three earned), and one walk with five strikeouts. Harman suffered his first loss since 2009. He was 9-0 in his previous 17 starts over the last two seasons entering Friday’s game.

Meanwhile, the Tar Heels scored all five of their runs on two-out hits. Michael led North Carolina’s nine-hit attack with a two-run double in the fifth inning and a two-run homer in the seventh inning.

The Tar Heels took the game’s first lead in the top of the fourth inning. Michael reached on an infield single with one out and went to third two batters later on Dillon Hazlett’s two-out single to right-center. Brett Knief then grounded a double over the third-base bag to score Michael.

Clemson came right back and took the lead in the bottom of the fourth inning. Kyle Parker hit a one-out single up the middle, moved to second on a wild pitch, and scored on John Hinson’s single up the middle. After Hinson advanced to third on Brad Miller’s double through the right side, Lamb grounded out to bring home Hinson.

North Carolina benefited from a Tiger error in the fifth inning to regain the lead. Jacob Stallings led off with a single to left-center. After the next two Tar Heels struck out, Jesse Wierzbicki reached on an error to extend the inning. Michael made the Tigers pay with a double off the top of the fence in right-center to score Stallings and Wierzbicki.

The Tar Heels tripled their lead with two outs in the seventh inning when Michael hit an opposite-field, two-run homer to right field, his third long ball of the season. Ben Bunting, who was hit-by-pitch earlier in the inning, also scored on the home run.

Hinson led off the ninth inning with a solo home run to right-center on an 0-2 pitch, his ninth long ball of the season. After the next two Tigers were retired, John Nester struck out but reached on a wild pitch. But Wilson Boyd, the potential tying run, struck out looking to end the game.

Parker and Hinson had two hits apiece to lead Clemson, who had six hits in the game and fell to 0-10 in its last 10 games decided by two runs or less. Hinson added a homer and two RBIs. John Nester 11-game hitting streak came to an end.

Clemson and North Carolina will play game-two of the series on Saturday at 11:00 AM.