Diamond Heels Take Series Opener From Duke

Thursday, March 23

Chapel Hill, N.C.

7 p.m.

North Carolina

17-5, 0

Duke

14-8, 0

Duke

North Carolina

Photo by: Ainsley E. Fauth

March 24, 2023 | Baseball

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By: UNC Athletics Communications

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – Junior Mac Horvath drove in the game-winning runs with a three-run homer in the fourth, and No. 15 North Carolina rallied past Duke 6-3 in the opener of a three-game ACC Coastal Division series at Boshamer Stadium on Thursday night.

UNC (16-5, 3-2 ACC) won its sixth straight game behind the pitching of Max Carlson (1-1), Kevin Eaise and Matt Poston. Easie and Poston combined to hold Duke (14-8, 3-4) scoreless over the final 4.0 innings.

Carlson recovered from an early three-run deficit and kept the Blue Devils off the scoreboard , limiting them to one hit in his final three innings. He struck out five in five innings pitched while allowing three runs on three hits to earn his first victory of the season.

"I thought the story was Max," UNC head coach Scott Forbes said. "He didn't have his best stuff, but he bridged the gap for us to those next two guys who've been throwing so well for us. Eaise was outstanding, he's been outstanding, then Poston went out there and got a three-out save which was good for him and good for us."

Hunter Stokely walked to start the fourth inning and Colby Wilkerson followed with a single. Vance Honeycutt then flew out to left field as Andrew Fischer made the catch against the wall to bring Horvath to the plate with one out.

"A big swing of the bat by Mac," Forbes stated. "I thought Vance's was gone and on most days it would be gone. Mac stepped right up and delivered that big hit. I thought top to bottom we had good at-bats against some pretty good arms."

Jackson Van De Brake reached base five times, going 3 for 3 with two singles and a double while drawing a base on balls and being hit by a pitch.

North Carolina tied the game in the second on a three-run double by Wilkerson that rattled around in the left field corner. The Tar Heels loaded the bases on Duke's errant attempt to get a force out at second base on a ground ball hit by Stokely. Johnny Castagnozzi and Casey Cook drew back-to-back one-out walks to start the rally.

Wilkerson went 2 for 3 with three RBIs and a walk.

The Blue Devils brought the tying run to the plate with two outs in the eighth, but Eaise struck out Devin Obee swinging to end the inning. He struck out four in 3.0 innings pitched.

"Eaise can start, he can go long, he can go short, and he's tough," Forbes said. "He's a worker."

Duke scored in the first two innings as Alex Stone hit a two-run homer in the first, and Obee doubled down the left field line to plate Damon Lux in the second.

Owen Proksch (2-1) suffered the loss after surrendering the home run to Horvath.

The series resumes Friday, March 24, at 6 p.m. with UNC right-hander Connor Bovair (2-1, 2.05) slated to face Duke left-handed pitcher Jonathan Santucci (2-1, 4.15). The game will stream on ACCNX.