Tar Heels Bombard Blue Devils 22‑5 in Seven Innings

DURHAM, N.C. (Interstat) — Gavin Gallaher and Owen Hull each drove in multiple runs to lead North Carolina to a 22-5 rout of Duke in seven innings Saturday afternoon. The Tar Heels improved to 36-8-1, while the Blue Devils fell to 23-23. Duke struck first on RJ Hamilton’s solo home run in the bottom of the first inning, but North Carolina answered with a five-run third inning. Gallaher tripled in two runs and Hull followed with a run-scoring double. The Tar Heels then broke the game open with a seven-run fourth, highlighted by Hull’s three-run homer, his fourth of the season. Jake Schaffner and Gallaher each added RBI singles in the frame, and Colin Hynek drew a bases-loaded walk. North Carolina added four more in the fifth on Macon Winslow’s two-run single. The Tar Heels finished with 18 hits to Duke’s 10, including eight extra-base hits. Matthew Strand hit a two-run homer for the Blue Devils in the third. Rom Kellis, Perry Hargett and Erik Paulsen also contributed hits for North Carolina. The game ended after seven innings.