WRAL Sports Fan

North Carolina

Carolina freshman Shell McCain leads Heels over Hokies

May 18, 2012

Chapel Hill, N.C. — Freshman Shell McCain connected on his first career home run to break up a no-hitter in the fifth inning and Benton Moss did the rest to help Carolina claim a series win over Virginia Tech with a 2-1 win Friday night. The win was Carolina's (41-13, 21-8 ACC) 12th straight and Moss improved to 6-3 on the year, while Virginia Tech fell to 34-20 on the year and 11-18 in ACC play.

Carolina fell in an early 1-0 hole when the Hokies pushed across an unearned run in the first but freshman Benton Moss responded by allowing just three hits over the next six scoreless frames. Virginia Tech's starter Joe Mantiply was just as good as he kept the Tar Heels in check by retiring the first 12 batters he faced in the contest.

Cody Stubbs broke up the perfect game in the bottom of the fifth as he battled to a six-pitch walk with one out in the inning.
Freshman Shell McCain stepped in and was sitting fastball and sent a shot into left field. Virginia Tech's Tyler Horan ran to the wall and attempted to pull the ball back into the field of play but it sailed narrowly over his glove for a game-changing two-run home run.

The long ball was the first of McCain's career and gave Carolina a 2-1 lead.  Moss responded with a scoreless inning in the sixth before the Tar Heels nearly added to their lead in the bottom half.  Carolina had the first two men reach when Parks Jordan was hit by a pitch and Chaz Frank dropped down a bunt single. A failed hit and run cut down Joran at third before Michael Russell dropped a single into center field to put runners at the corners.

With Carolina's three and four hitters due up the chance to score runs looked promising but Mantiply picked up a strikeout and a ground out to end the threat.  Moss kept the momentum in Carolina's favor in the seventh inning as he needed just six pitches to retire the Hokies. Moss capped off the inning with his eighth strikeout of the night.  Moss retired the first two batters in the eighth inning before departing in favor of left-hander R.C. Orlan. The junior came on to face the ACC's second-leading home run hitter in Tyler Horan.

Orlan made quick work of Horan as he threw four pitches to retire the slugger via the strikeout and keep the Tar Heels in front, 2-1.
Closer Michael Morin shut the Hokies down in the ninth to cap off the victory and earn his 17th save of the season which moved him within one of the single season school record of 18.

McCain paced the offense on a night that the Tar Heels managed just four hits as he connected on a home run in the fifth and a double in the seventh.  Moss finished the night allowing the lone unearned run and surrendered just four hits, while striking out eight for the sixth time this season. Carolina will be aiming for its fifth sweep of the ACC season on Saturday as the Tar Heels will celebrate senior day. Seniors Jimmy Messer and Jacob Stallings will be honored on the field before their final regular season contest at Boshamer Stadium.