A seven-run top of the third inning keyed the Diamond Heels’ 14-6 win at No. 11 Duke on Saturday afternoon, clinching the series against the Blue Devils for the fifth straight year.

Casey Cook drove in five runs on three hits, including a two-RBI single in the third which started Carolina’s seven-run rally. He advanced to third on a dropped third strike – which brought Vance Honeycutt home – then scored with two other Tar Heels on a bases-clearing double by Alberto Osuna. Cook would also score a run in a four-run fifth inning, then did the work himself with a three-run blast in the eighth, his 16th of the season. Anthony Donofrio, Alex Madera and Luke Stevenson also drove in runs.

Six pitchers combined in the winning effort for Carolina, with starter Aidan Haugh lasting 4.2 innings and Matthew Matthijs earning his team-high 12th win of the season with 1.1 innings of relief. Ben Peterson, Matt Poston, Cameron Padgett and Kyle Percival recorded the final six outs.

Saturday was Carolina’s 25th game of the season in which it has scored 10 or more runs, and the 12th in conference play. Eight of the team’s nine starting hitters reached base at least once, and UNC drew 11 total walks in addition to its 10 hits.

The Diamond Heels finish the regular season 41-12 overall and 22-8 in conference play. They have clinched the No. 1 seed in the ACC Tournament, which begins next week in Charlotte. The full field of teams will be announced after all the weekend’s games have concluded.

 

Featured image via UNC Baseball on Twitter

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