The Diamond Heels committed three errors – all of which led to Duke runs – in a 5-3 loss to the No. 11 Blue Devils on Thursday night. The loss drops Carolina to just 7-10 away from Boshamer Stadium this season.

Two of the Tar Heel errors came in the second inning. The first stretched what would’ve been a Blue Devil double into a triple, and the second brought that runner home on a ground ball to third base which snuck under the glove of Gavin Gallaher.

Carolina fought back from the 2-0 deficit, using home runs by Luke Stevenson and Parks Harber and a sacrifice fly to tie the game at 3-3 in the seventh. But the Blue Devils had an answer, hitting consecutive doubles in the bottom of the inning to retake the lead and adding insurance in the eighth. The fifth and final Duke run came home when Harber dropped a throw to first which would’ve been the final out of the inning. Instead, it was 5-3. Carolina went down in order in the top of the ninth.

UNC is 39-12 on the season and 20-8 in ACC play, two games ahead of Clemson for the No. 1 seed in the ACC Tournament. The Tigers beat Boston College on Thursday night, meaning Carolina still hasn’t clinched that top seed. The Tar Heels need one win against Duke or one Clemson loss to do so.

The Diamond Heels will take on the Blue Devils in the second game of the series on Friday at 2 p.m.

 

Featured image via UNC Baseball on Twitter

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