RALEIGH, N.C. (Interstat) — Jason DeCaro tossed five innings of no-hit ball and the North Carolina Tar Heels broke open a tight game with a five-run fifth inning Thursday, defeating the North Carolina State Wolfpack 9-4 in an Atlantic Coast Conference matchup at Doak Field.

DeCaro, who struck out eight and allowed two earned runs despite not surrendering a hit, improved to 8-1 on the season. The Tar Heels (42-9-1) took control of the game in the top of the fifth, sending 10 batters to the plate and scoring five runs to turn a 1-0 lead into a 6-0 advantage. Owen Hull keyed the rally with a two-run home run to deep right field, his eighth of the season. Jake Schaffner also drove in a run on a fielder’s choice, and Nicholson added an RBI single. The outburst came against Wolfpack starter Heath Andrews, who struck out 10 but allowed five earned runs on six hits over six innings.

DeCaro’s start continued a dominant stretch; he had allowed no earned runs in his previous two outings, both wins against Pittsburgh and Duke. Walker McDuffie earned the save with two scoreless innings of relief, striking out three and allowing no hits. Caden Glauber also threw two innings but gave up two earned runs.

North Carolina State (31-20) mounted a comeback in the bottom of the sixth, scoring four runs off Glauber. Sherman Johnson hit a three-run home run, his eighth of the year, and later added an RBI single to cut the deficit to 6-4. However, the Tar Heels bullpen shut the door from there. McDuffie retired six of the seven batters he faced, and the defense turned a key double play in the seventh.

The Tar Heels tacked on insurance in the eighth and ninth innings. In the eighth, Hynek reached on a fielder’s choice and Nicholson scored on a throwing error. In the ninth, Gallaher delivered a ground-rule double to score Schaffner, and Winslow followed with an RBI single.

For the Wolfpack, Johnson finished 1 for 5 with a home run and three RBIs. Andrews took the loss, dropping to 4-3. North Carolina State used four relievers, including Tristan Potts, Sam Harris and Michael Ragusa, who each threw scoreless innings.

The two teams will meet again Friday and Saturday to complete the series. North Carolina came into the game as a pregame favorite with a spread of plus 2.5. Interstat’s game simulator projected an 8-5 final score, and Interstat’s ELO system gave the Tar Heels a 62.90 percent probability to win.