Home runs from Johnny Castagnozzi and Mac Horvath and strong pitching from Jake Knapp and Will Sandy helped the Diamond Heels win the rubber game of their three-game series against Duke on Saturday at Boshamer Stadium by a 5-3 score. UNC has now won four consecutive series against the Blue Devils.

Like the first two games of the series, Saturday’s game was close throughout. Carolina took an early lead in the bottom of the first on an RBI double from Tomas Frick, but fell behind when the Blue Devils played a pair of runs in the third.

Castagnozzi then tied the game with his third home run of the season in the fourth, before Horvath gave UNC the lead back with a three-run blast in the fifth. Horvath now has 13 home runs on the season — five more than any of his teammates — and boasts a ridiculous 1.221 OPS through 24 games. By contrast, Horvath hit 18 home runs in 63 games last season.

On the mound, Knapp and Sandy ensured the Blue Devils wouldn’t replicate their late-inning rally from Friday. The Blue Devils only scored one more run (on a throwing error by Knapp, no less) after their two-run third inning and didn’t get a baserunner beyond second base after the sixth. Knapp earned his third win of the season by going six innings while allowing just five hits and those three runs. Sandy went the rest of the way in relief, allowing only two baserunners in three innings and striking out five to earn his first save.

The win improves Carolina to 18-6 overall and 4-3 in ACC play. The Tar Heels will stay at home for a midweek game with Coastal Carolina on Tuesday before traveling to South Bend for a three-game series at Notre Dame next weekend.

 

Featured image via UNC Baseball on Twitter

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