AP Sports Preview

DURHAM, N.C. (Interstat) — North Carolina visits Duke on Friday, April 24, 2026, in an Atlantic Coast Conference baseball matchup at Durham Bulls Athletic Park. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m., with the temperature at game time forecast at [temperature].

The Tar Heels (34-7-1) enter as heavy favorites. Interstat’s simulator projects an 8-1 victory for North Carolina, and its ELO system gives the Tar Heels a 67% probability of winning.

North Carolina is coming off a 9-2 win Tuesday over High Point. Third baseman Cooper Nicholson, a key player to watch, went 1 for 3 with a home run and two RBIs in that game. Over his last 10 contests, Nicholson has three homers, nine RBIs and a .286 batting average (10 for 35). The Tar Heels have won six of their last seven games.

Duke (22-21) enters after a 13-10 loss Tuesday at Liberty. First baseman Bobby Marsh, a player to watch for the Blue Devils, went 3 for 5 with a home run and four RBIs in that defeat. Marsh is 5 for 11 (.455) across his last three games, but Duke has lost four straight and six of its last seven.

The teams met Thursday in Chapel Hill, with North Carolina winning 3-1.

Pitching matchups have not been announced for Friday’s game. The series continues Saturday and returns to North Carolina for the finale on Sunday, May 3.