Tar Heels clinch 7th straight ACC series, top Duke

North Carolina (36-8-1, 17-7 ACC) knew it was in for a fight against rival Duke (23-23, 9-15 ACC), with the series coming on the heels of a convincing series win over Georgia Tech.

The second-ranked Tar Heels still came away with the series, their seventh straight against the Blue Devils and seventh consecutive ACC series win since dropping their league opener to Virginia.

Center fielder Owen Hull went 5-for-12 (.416) with two doubles, a home run and seven RBIs. Shortstop Jake Schaffner went 7-for-13 (.538) with a double and two RBIs.

Here is a recap of the three-game series:

Game 1 – North Carolina 3, Duke 1

Jason DeCaro allowed three hits and one unearned run over 7 2/3 innings to lead North Carolina past Duke 3-1 on Thursday night in the opener at Jack Coombs Field.

DeCaro struck out six and worked with minimal cushion. The Diamond Heels managed only three hits and struck out 11 times against Duke starter Aidan Weaver.

UNC broke through in the third when Schaffner singled, stole second and third, and scored on a Hull single.

Cooper Nicholson’s baserunning set up a sixth-inning RBI single from seldom-used Jadyn Nuñez for a 2-0 lead. Duke scratched across its lone run in the eighth on a steal of third and an errant throw by catcher Macon Winslow, a Duke transfer.

Hull’s RBI double in the ninth restored the two-run margin, and Walker McDuffie retired the side in order for the save.

Game 2 – Duke 3, North Carolina 1

North Carolina struggled in the second game as 11 runners were left on base throughout the game, allowing the series to be tied.

All three Duke runs scored in the first. After UNC starter Ryan Lynch recorded two quick outs, two Blue Devils reached with two outs before Michael DiMartini sent a fly ball toward deep right. Carter French couldn’t handle it near the wall, and two runners scored on the play. DiMartini was then awarded home when the relay throw skipped out of play, giving Duke three unearned runs.