University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Duke
No. 6 Tar Heels Cruise Past Duke, 11-2
March 19, 2016 | Baseball
DURHAM, N.C. --- Zack Gahagan had three hits and drove in four runs for No. 6 North Carolina in support of Zac Gallen, who fanned 10 over seven innings in an 11-2 series-opening win over Duke Friday night at Durham Bulls Athletic Park. Carolina broke open a 2-2 game with five runs in the sixth, including a go-ahead single by Eli Sutherland, who had two hits and reached base four times.
Gahagan got his first start of the year at first base after Brian Miller was scratched due to illness and made the most of it, matching a career-high with four RBIs. His big blow was a two-run double in the five-run sixth that scored Sutherland and Logan Warmoth.
Gallen (3-0) was stellar once again for the Tar Heels. The junior right-hander allowed just four hits and two runs and struck out 12 Blue Devils while issuing just one walk. After surrendering the lead in the fourth, Gallen retired the final 10 batters he faced before handing it over to A.J. Bogucki for the final two innings.
Duke starter Bailey Clark (2-2) matched Gallen early before surrendering single runs in the third and fourth. Sutherland's single chased him in the sixth, and the Carolina offense teed off on five Blue Devil relievers over the final four innings.
Tyler Ramirez singled home the game's first run in the third to stretch his hitting streak to six games and his reached-base streak to 21.
Carolina (15-2) has scored at least 10 runs in nine of 17 games so far in 2016 and eight of its last 11.
Game two of the series is set for Saturday at 1 p.m.
