No. 10 North Carolina Takes Opener over Duke

Friday, March 18

Durham Bulls Athletic Park

6:00 PM

Duke University

North Carolina

Duke Faces Top-Ranked Hurricanes at the DBAP

No. 10 North Carolina Takes Opener over Duke

3/18/2016 10:53:00 PM | Baseball

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By: Duke Sports Information

DURHAM, N.C. – Tied 2-2 after five innings, No. 10 North Carolina broke the game open with a five-run sixth, ultimately defeating Duke 11-2 Friday evening at the Durham Bulls Athletic Park.

North Carolina (15-2, 3-1 ACC) scored nine runs over the sixth, seventh and eighth innings, putting an initially close ballgame out of reach down the stretch. The Tar Heels totaled 10 hits to the Blue Devils' four and benefitted from a season-high five Duke (10-8, 1-3 ACC) errors.

“I thought we let our youth show,” said head coach Chris Pollard. “I thought we had some guys who got caught up in the atmosphere a little bit tonight. We were wide-eyed at times. We allowed the game to speed up on us. We didn't communicate very well tonight and that led to some mistakes. It's a learning moment for a young club.”

Three of the Blue Devils' four hits came in Duke's two-run fourth. Junior Cris Perez continued his hot streak at the plate, going 2-for-3 with an RBI. Perez is 6-for-7 over his past two games, raising his average .282.

UNC starter Zac Gallen (3-0) went 8.0 innings, allowing two runs on four hits. Gallen fanned 10 and issued just one walk, retiring nine straight Blue Devil batters after yielding the two fourth-inning runs.

In the series opener between the two ACC rivals, North Carolina got on the board first, taking advantage of a couple Duke miscues in the third. Kyle Datres coaxed a two-out walk before scampering to second on an errant pickoff throw. Tyler Ramirez then bounced an RBI single up the middle to put the Tar Heels up, 1-0.

UNC tacked on second unearned run an inning later. Eli Sutherland singled and stole second before a Duke throwing error on a Cody Roberts' groundball placed runners at the corners. The Tar Heels then received an RBI groundout from Zack Gahagan before Duke starter Bailey Clark fanned Adam Pate to end the frame.

After registering one hit off Gallen over the first three frames, Duke broke out for two runs on three hits in the fourth. Freshman Jimmy Herron led off with a double to left and sophomore Jack Labosky followed suit with a double of his own to plate Duke's first run of the game. Gallen retired the next two batters before Perez lined his second hit of the game into left center, tying the contest at 2-2.

North Carolina responded with authority to start the sixth and claim a 7-2 advantage. Tyler Lynn led off with a single, the first of four UNC hits in the inning. A Duke miscue on a sacrifice bunt put two aboard and Sutherland added an RBI single to break the two-all tie. Gahagan snuck a two-run double inside the right field line, Brandon Riley added an RBI base knock and Datres chipped in an RBI groundout to complete the rally.

The Sutherland single knocked Clark (2-2) from the game. Clark covered 5.0 innings, allowing five runs – only two earned – on four hits while striking out five and walking three.

Gahagan drove in a run with an RBI single in the seventh. The UNC first baseman finished the day 3-for-5 with four RBI and a run scored. The Tar Heels added three more runs in the eighth as Ramirez notched an RBI and Logan Warmoth drove in a pair.

Duke and North Carolina return to the Durham Bulls Athletic Park Saturday, March 19 for a 1 p.m., first pitch. Blue Devil left-hander Trent Swart is slated to start opposite Tar Heel right-hander J.B. Bukauskas on ESPN3.

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