The third-ranked UNC baseball team used an early offensive outburst on Saturday to ensure it would end its regular season in the only way that would make sense for this year’s fantastic Tar Heel team–with a win.

Scoring at least once in each of the first five innings at Boshamer Stadium, UNC opened up a 7-1 lead over the rival Duke Blue Devils before holding on down the stretch for a 9-7 victory.

Junior centerfielder Brian Miller went 4-for-5 with an RBI at the plate for the Tar Heels, while Brandon Riley and Ashton McGee led the way with two RBIs apiece.

UNC (43-11, 23-7 ACC) also received a solo home run from Zack Gahagan, as it clinched its 10th consecutive ACC series win–a streak that dates throughout the entirety of this season.

The 23 conference wins amassed by the Tar Heels also sets a new single-season school record.

Duke was led by a home run and two RBIs from third baseman Jack Labosky, who tallied both of his run-scoring hits against UNC freshman right-hander Gianluca Dalatri.

Labosky’s double in the top of the sixth helped kick-start a three-run frame for the Blue Devils, who ultimately scored six runs over the final four innings.

UNC was forced to go to the bullpen after Dalatri failed to record an out during Duke’s sixth-inning surge.

The combination of relievers Brett Daniels, Josh Hiatt, Rodney Hutchison and Austin Bergner proved to be just enough to slam the door shut, however, as the Blue Devils couldn’t quite muster enough steam to overcome the Tar Heels’ early explosion.

With the win, UNC–the ACC Coastal Division Champions–will enter this week’s conference tournament oozing with momentum.

Up Next:

The schedule for the ACC Tournament in Louisville will be released on Sunday morning.

Related Stories
‹
UNC Baseball Explodes for 21 Runs to Clinch Series Victory Over Duke
Monday night at Boshamer Stadium saw the UNC baseball team explode for a whopping 21 runs in a 21-8 win over Duke–clinching the three-game rivalry series. The Tar Heels hit five home runs in the game–including two by Brett Centracchio in the fifth inning–on their way to their highest scoring total since they scored 21 […]
Huge Eighth Inning Fuels UNC Baseball's 11-5 Victory Over Duke
Tied 5-5 entering the bottom of the eighth inning on Sunday at Boshamer Stadium, the UNC baseball scored six runs in the frame on the way to an 11-5 victory over Duke. Dallas Tessar was hit by pitch to start the big inning, then came home to give the Tar Heels the lead after Caleb […]
Duke Hangs On to Top UNC Baseball in Series Opener
In a game that resumed Saturday after being postponed after two innings on Friday, Duke held on for a 4-2 victory at Boshamer Stadium over the UNC baseball team. The Blue Devils (13-13) began the day ahead 2-0 in the top of the third inning, then added two more runs in the top of the […]
UNC Baseball Finishes Off Sweep Over Duke With 16-6 Victory on Sunday
Eight runs in the seventh inning on Sunday afternoon at Boshamer Stadium helped guide the 16th-ranked UNC baseball team to a convincing 16-6 victory over the rival Duke Blue Devils–clinching the series sweep for the Tar Heels. This marks the second time in the last four years that UNC (22-8) has swept Duke (14-14). Five […]
No. 16 UNC Baseball Holds Off Duke on Saturday to Clinch Series Win
A wild back-and-forth affair on Saturday afternoon at Boshamer Stadium saw the 16th-ranked UNC baseball team pick up an 8-7 win over the rival Duke Blue Devils to clinch the three-game series victory prior to Sunday’s finale. Junior outfielder Michael Busch hit a solo home run in the bottom of the eighth inning to break […]
Tyler Baum Pitches Gem as No. 16 UNC Baseball Defeats Duke 1-0
Behind a phenomenal pitching performance from junior right-hander Tyler Baum on Friday night at Boshamer Stadium, the 16th-ranked UNC baseball team was able to squeak out a 1-0 victory over the rival Duke Blue Devils in what was the series opener between the two teams. Baum pitched 8.2 scoreless innings, while striking out six batters […]
Diamond Heels Avoid Sweep Against No. 13 Duke by Winning Sunday's Series Finale
Attempting to avoid the sweep at the hands of the 13th-ranked Duke Blue Devils on Sunday at the Durham Bulls Athletic Park, the No. 4 UNC baseball team did just that–defeating its arch-rival by a score of 8-6. The Tar Heels (34-16, 19-8 ACC) held on to a game-and-a-half lead in the ACC Coastal Division […]
UNC Baseball Drops Second Straight Game to No. 13 Duke, Drops Crucial Series in Durham
It had been nearly two months since the red-hot UNC baseball team–now ranked No. 4 in the country–had lost an ACC series, but the No. 13 Duke Blue Devils changed that on Saturday with a 5-2 victory over the Tar Heels at the Durham Bulls Athletic Park. The loss is the third in a row […]
No. 13 Duke Takes Series Opener Against UNC Baseball
Friday’s series opener at the Durham Bulls Athletic Park between No. 13 Duke and the fourth-ranked UNC baseball team saw the Blue Devils strike first blood with a 7-3 victory over the Tar Heels. First-round MLB Draft prospect Griffin Conine hit a solo home run in the bottom of the second inning to put the […]
Diamond Heels Hold Off Duke in Season Finale, Clinch 10th Straight ACC Series Win
The third-ranked UNC baseball team used an early offensive outburst on Saturday to ensure it would end its regular season in the only way that would make sense for this year’s fantastic Tar Heel team–with a win. Scoring at least once in each of the first five innings at Boshamer Stadium, UNC opened up a […]
›