University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Duke
No. 6 Carolina Tops Duke, 12-2
March 19, 2016 | Baseball
Ramirez tripled home Adam Pate and Kyle Datres as part of a three-run first, and the Tar Heels (16-2, 4-1 ACC) piled on five more runs to break open the game in the third. Ramirez opened the scoring in that frame as well, plating Pate ahead of Eli Sutherland's RBI double. Pate's bases-loaded walk - one of 12 issued on the day by Duke pitchers - made it 8-0.
J.B. Bukauskas (3-0) walked a career-high six Blue Devils but was otherwise outstanding in picking up his third straight win. The sophomore right-hander struck out seven and allowed just four hits over six innings. Brett Daniels and Zach Rice worked the final three innings and struck out three.
Carolina's offense has been producing at an elite level this week after being shut out by Pitt last Sunday. In four games, the Tar Heels have scored 51 runs in wins over East Carolina, Elon and Duke. UNC had not scored 10-plus runs in four straight games since the start of the BBCOR era in 2011, but it has done so twice so far in 2016.
Chris Proctor had a career-high three hits to lead the Blue Devils (10-9, 1-4 ACC). Trent Swart (1-1) allowed three runs in the first to take the loss.
The Tar Heels will go for the series sweep Sunday afternoon at 1.
