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 Blue Devils in front, and then from there they would never trail on the way to the win.

After Duke added two more runs in the fifth inning, UNC responded by tying things up with three runs of its own in the top of the sixth. Ben Casparius, Ike Freeman and Ashton McGee each drove in a run to represent all of the offense the Tar Heels would receive in the game.

The most important hit of the evening, however, was a two-run single in the seventh by Duke’s Zack Kone against UNC reliever Josh Hiatt. Kone’s effort put Duke ahead 5-3, and turned out to be the game-winner.

Duke then added two more runs on a triple by Kennie Taylor in the bottom of the eighth inning to add insurance it ultimately would not need.

Up Next:

UNC will look to tie the series up on Saturday, with first pitch set for 1 p.m.

 

FINAL BOX SCORE

 

 

 

Photo via UNC Athletics

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