Duke Falls in Series Opener to No. 15 North Carolina 6-3

Thursday, March 23

Chapel Hill, NC

7 PM

Duke University

14-8, 0

North Carolina

17-5, 0

Duke

North Carolina

Duke Falls in Series Opener to No. 15 North Carolina 6-3

3/23/2023 10:39:00 PM | Baseball

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CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – No. 15 North Carolina (17-5, 3-2 ACC) hit a three-run home run in the bottom of the fourth to down Duke Baseball (14-8, 3-4 ACC), 6-3, on Thursday night in the series opener in Chapel Hill.

Freshman Owen Proksch fell for the first time this season, working 1.2 innings and allowing three runs on three hits and walking four Tar Heels. The Blue Devils' pitching staff issued a season-high nine walks in Thursday's loss to the Tar Heels.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Duke jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the first inning, as Alex Stone hit a two-run home run to left field.
The Blue Devils added to the lead in the top of the second, as Devin Obee doubled down the line in left field to score Damon Lux from second, 3-0.
North Carolina tied the game in the bottom of the second inning, clearing a bases loaded situation with a double down the line in left, 3-3.
Tar Heels took the lead in bottom of the fourth inning with a three-run shot to left field, 6-3.

NOTES

Junior Alex Stone hit a two-run home run in the top of the first inning, his fifth of the season.
Duke's pitching staff issued a season-high nine walks on Thursday, the previous season high was seven.
Freshman Owen Proksch dropped his first decision of the season, falling to 2-1 on the year after allowing a three-run home run.

QUOTES

"We did a great job of scoring the first three runs of the game with two outs and had Carlson on the ropes. Third, fourth and fifth inning we had the leadoff man on and had nothing to show for it. We have to figure out a way to push across a couple there. We turn that double play eight or nine times out of 10. If we turn that double play, you are feeling different." – Head coach Chris Pollard on the fast start and the ability to put the starter on the ropes.
"I am proud of our compete factor on the mound. Boucher comes on and gets us off the field. Hart comes on and gets us off the field. Really good inning by Jimmy Romano which is encouraging. There were a lot of positives out there on the mound tonight." – On the ability of the bullpen to keep the Blue Devils in the game.

UP NEXT

Duke and Carolina will face off in game two of the three-game set on Saturday evening at Boshamer Stadium in Chapel Hill, N.C. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m.

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