Tar Heels Top Blue Devils, Claim Series

Saturday, March 19

Durham Bulls Athletic Park

1:00 PM

Duke University

North Carolina

Tar Heels Top Blue Devils, Claim Series

3/19/2016 6:22:00 PM | Baseball

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By: Duke Sports Information

DURHAM, N.C. – No. 10 North Carolina jumped out to an early lead and never trailed, claiming the series with a 12-2 victory over the Blue Devils Saturday afternoon at the Durham Bulls Athletic Park.

Duke (10-9, 1-4 ACC) outhit North Carolina (16-2, 4-1 ACC), 9-8, but the Blue Devils committed two costly errors and issued an uncharacteristic 12 walks to Tar Heel batters. The free bases came back to haunt Duke as all seven of North Carolina's earned runs originally reached base via walk or hit by pitch and the remaining five were unearned.

“You're probably never going to see a weirder line on the scoreboard than that,” said head coach Chris Pollard. “We outhit them nine hits to eight, but again victimized by a lot of free bases. Walk 12 guys and you're likely never going to win a ballgame. That hasn't been an issue for us to this point, but in this series we've struggled to command the baseball.”

Freshman catcher Chris Proctor registered a career-high three hits to lead the Blue Devils at the plate. Sophomore right fielder Peter Zyla went 2-for-3, while freshman shortstop Zack Kone posted a 2-for-4 outing. Sophomores Justin Bellinger and Max Miller notched an RBI each.

The UNC offense picked up right where it left off Friday evening, plating three runs to kick off the first. Three walks aided the Tar Heel cause and Tyler Ramirez ripped a two-run triple to the right center gap, followed by a Logan Warmoth RBI groundout.

Duke starter Trent Swart (1-1) exited after the first. The left-hander allowed three runs on one hit while walking three.

North Carolina utilized two Duke errors to break the game open with a five-run third. The Blue Devils made two throwing errors in the frame and all five UNC fifth-inning runs were unearned.

The Tar Heels scored two runs in the fifth and added a lone run in both seventh and eighth frames.

UNC starter J.B. Bukauskas (3-0) allowed one run on four hits over 6.0 innings to pick up the win. Bukauskas struck out seven and walked six.

Ramirez finished the game with two hits, three RBI and two runs scored. He was the only Tar Heel with multiple hits in the game.

Duke and North Carolina wrap up the series Sunday, March 20 at the DBAP. First pitch is set for 1 p.m. The Blue Devils' Brian McAfee takes the mound opposite the Tar Heels' Jason Morgan.

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