DURHAM BULLS ATHLETIC PARK/DURHAM Duke has pulled the same feat twice, this time in Durham.
Last year, Duke lost the first game in the Tobacco Road series in Chapel Hill, but won the series by winning the last two games. This year, the series is in Durham, but the same result comes out on Sunday as Duke wins the finale 5-3.
For the first time in the series, there are no runs scored in the first inning. The first run is scored in the top of the third on of a two-run homer by UNC’s Jesse Wierzbicki.
Two innings go by without a run, but Duke eventually responds to North Carolina’s 2-0 lead with a two-run homer of its own, this time by Will Currier. The tie doesn’t last long as UNC’s Ryan Graepel singles to center allowing Levi Michael to score, after Michael singles, advances to second on a ground out and to third on of a wild pitch.
Another two-innings past without a body crossing home, but Duke takes the lead for the first time at 5-3 in the eighth, on hits from Brian Litwin and Eric Brady.
Ben Grisz closes in the ninth allowing a single hit, securing the victory and a point in the Carlyle Cup standings, cutting UNC’s lead to 2.5.
Duke takes on Liberty on Wednesday at the USA Baseball National Training Complex in Cary at 4 p.m. There is no charge for admission.
UNC travels to Princeton on Tuesday for a two-game series, with Tuesday’s game at 3 p.m. and Wednesday’s game at 6 p.m.