DURHAM, N.C. (Interstat) — The top-ranked North Carolina Tar Heels, boasting the nation’s premier record, begin a pivotal Atlantic Coast Conference series against the rival Duke Blue Devils on Thursday at Durham Bulls Athletic Park.

North Carolina (34-7-1) enters on a dominant run, having won 12 of its last 14 games. The Tar Heels are coming off a 9-2 midweek victory over High Point where third baseman Cooper Nicholson homered and drove in two runs. Nicholson, a key player to watch, has three home runs and 10 RBIs in his last 10 games.

The Blue Devils (22-21), seeking consistency, are looking to rebound after a 13-10 road loss at Liberty on Tuesday. First baseman Bobby Marsh was a bright spot in that defeat, going 3 for 5 with a home run and four RBIs. Marsh has been a steady presence, recording hits in five of his last six games.

This series opener is the first of three scheduled meetings between the teams in an 11-day span, with a single game at North Carolina set for May 3. The rivalry adds high stakes to Duke’s attempt to climb above .500 in conference play and North Carolina’s pursuit of a top seed for the NCAA tournament.

Interstat’s game simulator projects a lopsided 8-1 victory for the visiting Tar Heels. The teams will meet again Friday and Saturday in Durham to complete this weekend’s set.

On the mound, North Carolina’s pitching staff has been formidable, posting a 2.83 ERA over the last 10 games. Duke’s starters will need to navigate a deep Tar Heels lineup that is averaging 8.4 runs per game during that same stretch.

The weather forecast for first pitch was unavailable.