Duke beats UNC Tar Heels in first game of pivotal baseball series

With their backs against the proverbial wall in terms of regional hosting chances, the Blue Devils beat No. 5 North Carolina 5-3 on Thursday.

Days after being dropped as a projected regional host by D1Baseball, the No. 11 Duke Blue Devils defeated No. 5 North Carolina to open the final series of the regular season.

After dropping two out of three on the road to Georgia Tech last weekend, Duke entered the three-game home stand at 34-16 on the season and without ace pitcher Jonathan Santucci. The star lefty needed some rest before the postseason after a rib injury, the team announced earlier in the week, so freshman Kyle Johnson took the opening spot on the mound instead.

After surrendering six earned runs in two innings against the Yellow Jackets on Saturday, the dazzling debutant bounced back in a big way. He blanked UNC for the first five innings of the game, striking out his first two batters in just eight pitches to set the tone.

Johnson had a perfect game going through four innings, fanning six of the first 12 batters he faced before a walk to begin the fifth finally allowed a baserunner. He wiggled his way out of the opening runner easily, however, notching a seventh strikeout and two ground balls to end the frame.

In the meantime, Duke’s offense built a small lead but one that seemed insurmountable with Johnson’s work on the mound. First baseman Logan Bravo singled with two runners on in the first inning, plating Ben Miller for the opening run.

Johnson contributed at the plate, too, sneaking a ground ball past the third baseman’s glove (well, really under in what was ruled a fielding error) in the second inning to bring Devin Obee around for run number two.

The freshman finally appeared mortal in the top of the sixth when UNC catcher Luke Stevenson launched a ball over the right-field wall for a solo home run. Johnson worked his way through the next three batters to end the inning, and Bravo notched a solo home run of his own in the bottom of the inning to push Duke farther ahead.

Johnson coughed up another leadoff homer to Parks Harbor in the seventh to tie the game, however. One single later, and Johnson’s afternoon was over after 82 pitches, eight strikeouts, and four baserunners. However, that last baserunner crossed home plate on a sacrifice fly later in the inning to give him three earned runs.

The Duke bats came up clutch when needed, however. Alex Stone nailed a ball down the third-base line in the bottom of the seventh, seemingly inches inside the foul line, for an RBI double to sneak the Blue Devils ahead once more.

A fielding error from Harbor in the eighth gave Duke an insurance run, but with closer Charlie Beilenson on the mound, the Blue Devils didn’t need it. In three innings of work, the Dick Howser Trophy semifinalist gave up a single hit and struck out six to keep UNC from adding any more tallies to their column.

The Blue Devils have a chance to claim bragging rights and win the series on Friday at 2 p.m. with the first pitch moved up a few hours due to weather.