2009 UNC baseball 2008 UNC baseball
Off the cuff: World Series Game vs. Southern Miss: Dustin Ackley, currently batting .421, broke the College World Series record for career base hits with World Series Game 1: A lot is expected of Dustin Ackley and indeed the Tar Heels needed him to come through in the bottom of the ninth with two out and a runner on. He fanned looking on a borderline inside strike. Game 2: While the pitching undoubtedly made the biggest difference, the Carolina bats have awakened over the last couple of weeks. UNC batters had 30 hits over the two games against ECU. The Tar Heels had been relying on all-world player Dustin Ackley to provide the offense, along with some help from Kyle Seager. But the entire team has been hitting well and coming through in the clutch. I've covered Mike Fox since the days when he coached at N.C. Wesleyan and I don't think I've ever seen him any more excited after a game. He demonstratively hugged each of his players during the post-game celebration. The Tar Heels will be starting at the Double Tree hotel in downtown Omaha, less than three miles from Rosenblatt Stadium. I believe this is the closest they've ever stayed to the field. Maybe the fourth time is the charm. Carolina has now actually been to eight World Series but four in a row. Game 1: While most East Carolina fans applauded the effort of Alex White as he left the mound for what will be his last appearance at home, a couple gave him the finger. One of the UNC baseball radio announcers slyly said that perhaps they were honoring the fact that he gave up only one run. Conventional wisdom was that ECU has the better hitting team but Carolina has been peaking at the plate lately, having scored in double figures the last three games. The Pirates have a lot of power at the plate but they also tend to strikeout a lot. On the other hand, each of Carolina's big three pitchers - White, Warren and Harvey - average more than a strikeout an inning.
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