DURHAM, N.C. (Interstat) — North Carolina erupted for 22 runs on 18 hits Saturday afternoon to rout Duke 22-5 in a seven-inning Atlantic Coast Conference game that was decided early by a massive fourth inning.

The Tar Heels improved to 36-8-1 overall and 17-6 in the ACC after splitting the first two games of the series. Duke dropped to 23-23 and 10-13 in conference play, having lost five of its last six.

The game was supposed to be a pitcher’s duel. Interstat’s game simulator projected an 8-1 Tar Heels victory, and its ELO system gave North Carolina a 66.50 percent probability of winning. Instead, the Tar Heels produced their highest run total of the season, putting the game out of reach by the middle innings.

After Duke’s RJ Hamilton homered in the first inning for a 1–0 lead, North Carolina answered in the third. Gavin Gallaher tripled to right center, scoring two runs, and Owen Hull doubled to bring home Gallaher, giving the Tar Heels a 3-1 advantage. Duke tied it in the bottom of the third when Matthew Strand launched a two-run homer, his 11th of the season.

The decisive moment came in the top of the fourth. Jake Schaffner singled to drive in a run, Gallaher followed with a two-run single, and Hull crushed a three-run homer to deep left field, his fourth of the year. The Tar Heels continued to pour it on, loading the bases twice and scoring seven runs in the frame. Colin Hynek walked with the bases loaded to force home another run, making it 10-3.

North Carolina added two more in the fifth. Schaffner singled and stole third, and Macon Winslow delivered a two-run single through the left side. The Tar Heels tacked on additional runs later to reach the final margin.

Jake Schaffner finished with multiple hits and runs batted in from the leadoff spot. Gallaher drove in four runs with a triple and a single, while Hull knocked in four with a double and a homer. Winslow contributed a two-run single, and Hynek drove in a run with a bases-loaded walk.

Duke managed 10 hits, including home runs from Hamilton and Strand, but never threatened after the fourth. The Blue Devils used five pitchers, none of whom could slow the Tar Heels’ lineup.

The series concludes Sunday in Chapel Hill. North Carolina will host Duke again on May 3 after a midweek game against Coastal Carolina. Duke travels to Georgia Tech next weekend.