DURHAM, N.C. – Tied 3-3 heading to the seventh, No. 13 Duke struck for four runs in the latter innings and received a shutout performance from the bullpen to top No. 4 North Carolina, 7-3, in the series opener Friday evening at the Durham Bulls Athletic Park.
After North Carolina (33-15, 18-7 ACC) tied the game with a three-run sixth, Duke (37-11, 16-8 ACC) plated a pair in both the seventh and eighth. Zack Kone drove a first-pitch offering down the left field line with the bases loaded in the seventh before Kennie Taylor ripped a two-run eighth-inning triple.