March 19, 2012

UNC Athletic Communications

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - No. 4 North Carolina will host Princeton Tuesday in a midweek contest set for 6 p.m. at Boshamer Stadium. After playing eight of their last nine games on the road the Tar Heels return home for a nine-game homestand over the next two weeks.

Last Week Carolina went 3-2 a week ago as the Tar Heels opened with a 5-1 road win at UNC Greensboro before dropping a 7-4 decision at home against Gardner-Webb to cap off the midweek.

The Tar Heels then traveled to College Park, Md. and took on the Maryland Terrapins in an ACC series. Carolina picked up a narrow 4-3 win on Friday behind Kent Emanuel and closer Michael Morin before slugging out nine runs on 12 hits on Saturday to claim the series with a 9-5 win.

Freshman Benton Moss struck out a career-high 10 batters on Sunday but the Tar Heels were unable to come up with the big hit and fell 1-0 in the series finale.

Tom Zengel was one of five Tar Heels to hit over .300 for the week as the sophomore designated hitter was 4-for-11 (.364). Leadoff man Chaz Frank scored a team-high five runs, while reaching base at a .520 clip.

Carolina-Princeton Connection
The Tar Heels and Tigers have faced off against each other at least once in each of the last four years and have faced each other 37 times entering Tuesday's matchup.

Princeton is coached by former Tar Heel All-America catcher Scott Bradley who donned the Carolina Blue from 1979-1982.

Bradley is in his 14th year as the Princeton skipper and routinely takes on his former squad in mid-March.

Princeton assistant coach Lloyd Brewer was a college teammate of UNC head coach Mike Fox as both were members of the 1978 Carolina team that reached the College World Series.

Tuesday's Matchup
Freshman left-hander Chris O'Brien will get the call for the Tar Heels on Tuesday as the Drexel Hill, Pa., native will make his fifth start of the year. O'Brien opened the year in the weekend rotation but will be making his first midweek start of the year on Tuesday.

Expect the Tar Heels to use a number of arms out of the bullpen after needing just four relievers in the series win at Maryland over the weekend.

Up Next
Carolina will play just one midweek game for the first time in three weeks this week as they will welcome in NC State for a rare Saturday, Sunday, Monday series.

The Tar Heels and Wolfpack will do battle Saturday at 1 p.m. with the game televised on the Regional Sports Network. Saturday's game will be shown on ESPN3 with first pitch set for 2 p.m. before Monday's marquee matchup on ESPNU at 7 p.m. under the Boshamer Stadium lights.