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CHAPEL HILL, N.C.  — Trailing, 3-2, entering the top of the ninth inning, pinch-hitting freshman Charlie Rivera (Hazlet, N.J.) picked up his first collegiate RBI with a sacrifice fly scoring red-shirt senior Matt Smedberg (Rockaway, N.J.) from third base to tie the game. However, North Carolina freshman Tarron Robinson drove in the winning run on a sacrifice fly in the bottom half of the inning as the #2 Tar Heels defeated the Pirates, 4-3, in game two of Friday afternoon’s double-header.

Smedberg led off the ninth inning (2-3) with a triple while Rivera, who pinch hit for red-shirt sophomore Bobby Abreu (Piscataway, N.J.), followed with the sacrifice fly.  In the bottom of the ninth, North Carolina loaded the bases on a Pirate error, a single by Mark Fleury, and a walk by Ben Bunting prior to the game-winning sacrifice fly by Robinson.

The Tar Heels (6-1) broke the scoreless tie in the bottom of the sixth inning when Ryan Graepel connected for a lead-off home run to left-field.  It was Graepel’s first of the year.

Behind, 1-0, entering the top of the seventh inning, senior Chris Affinito (East Brunswick, N.J.) hit a one-out single to right field, followed by a double to left field by junior Chris Spagnuolo (Tabernacle, N.J.).  Next batter, junior Chris Fontenelli (Toms River, N.J.), ripped a 3-2 pitch into right-center field scoring Abreu, who pinch-ran for Affinito, and Spagnuolo, for a, 2-1, Pirates lead.

North Carolina came right back in the bottom half of the inning when Fleury singled to center field scoring Kyle Seager from second base, tying the game at two.  They would jump out to the, 3-2, advantage in the bottom of the eighth inning on an RBI single by Michael Levi.

Both teams had their chances early in the game to grab the lead.  North Carolina’s chance came in the bottom of the third inning when Ben Bunting reached base on an error, advanced to second on another, and third base on a ground out for the second out of the inning.  However, Cantwell induced Mike Cavasinni to ground out to third base for the final out.

The Pirates opportunity came in the top of the fourth inning.  Sophomore Frank Esposito (Staten Island, N.Y.) drew a one-out walk and advanced to second when red-shirt Matt Smedberg (Rockaway, N.J.) reached on an error.  With one-out and two on, Tar Heels starter Adam Warren struck out senior Chris Affinito (East Brunswick, N.J.) and got Spagnuolo to ground out to third base to end the inning.

Freshman Henry Warner (Gladstone, N.J.) (0-1) suffered the loss yielding a run on one hit in 0.2 innings, while Matt Harvey (2-0) picked up the victory tossing a scoreless inning of relief.  Pirates senior starter Keith Cantwell (Tinton Falls, N.J.) received a no-decision after pitching 7.1 innings allowing three runs, striking out four, while Tar Heel starter Adam Warren, also receiving a no-decision, last 6.1 innings surrendering two runs on four hits with eight strikeouts.

Spagnuolo led Pirates offense, for the second straight game, going 2-for-4 with one RBI.

The Pirates and Tar Heels are scheduled to return to the field Sunday afternoon at noon to complete the series.  Should the weather be well enough to play, the two teams will complete the series Saturday afternoon starting at 1:00 p.m.