After opening its season in Boca Raton Fla." the North Carolina baseball team opens its ""home"" season today - in Cary.
The Tar Heels (3-0) host preseason No. 25 Old Dominion (1-1) at the USA Baseball National Training Complex" UNC's temporary home for the 2008 season.
The Tar Heels took advantage of FAU's hitter-friendly park smashing 11 home runs in the three games" and swept the three-game series.
""It was exciting to get started"" UNC coach Mike Fox said. You never ever know what to expect kind of the first weekend.""
Senior Seth Williams and sophomore Dustin Ackley powered the Tar Heel offense in the first game" a 7-1 UNC victory - each hitting two home runs" something Ackley said likely won't happen as frequently in Cary.
""When I first started hitting (in Boca Raton)" I didn't expect the ball to fly like it did he said. In Cary where we play" it's going to be fly balls.""
The final two games of the series didn't go as easily for North Carolina. In game two" the Owls led 10-6 after four innings but back-to-back three-run innings for UNC put the Tar Heels on top for good.
North Carolina again trailed in the series finale this time by three runs after the eighth inning.
And the ninth was almost not played. If not for Williams' timely grab for the third out in the bottom of the eighth travel plans would have forced the game to be made official after just eight innings.
Tim Federowicz took full advantage of the final frame. He led off the ninth with a home run and spurred a four-run inning giving UNC another one-run win.
While the UNC hitters might miss the short left-field porch in Boca Raton" Tar Heel pitchers are welcoming the pitcher-friendly USA Complex.
""It's going to be a lot better playing in that park than it was over in Florida"" said UNC senior right-hander Rob Wooten, who gave up two home runs in 5.1 innings against the Owls.
Every ball hit in there was outta here.""
Contact the Sports Editor at sports@unc.edu.
