CHARLOTTE, N.C. (Interstat) — Duke and North Carolina State meet Tuesday evening in the opening round of the Atlantic Coast Conference Baseball Championship at Truist Field, with the Wolfpack carrying a 32-21 record into the tournament and the Blue Devils trying to overcome a 25-30 season.

The game is scheduled for 7 p.m. The forecast calls for [temperature] degrees at first pitch.

Duke (25-30) earned a berth despite a 1-6 stretch to close the regular season, including a 7-3 win over Wake Forest on May 16 that was a rare bright spot. The Blue Devils lost two of three at Georgia Tech and were swept at home by North Carolina in April. In their most recent series against North Carolina State, April 10-12, Duke dropped two of three, losing 10-4 and 18-5 before salvaging a 3-2 win.

North Carolina State (32-21) finished the regular season strong, beating North Carolina 7-2 on May 16 after a series split with the Tar Heels. The Wolfpack lost two of three at Stanford but swept Miami (Fla.) at home May 1-2. They are 2-1 against Duke this season.

Pitching matchup

Duke is expected to start junior right-hander Jack Hedrick, who has been inconsistent. In his last outing, Hedrick threw 4 2/3 shutout innings against Wake Forest, allowing two hits and striking out one. In three prior appearances, all losses, he allowed five earned runs in 6 1/3 combined innings, including a 1-inning stint against North Carolina on May 3.

North Carolina State counters with junior left-hander Anderson Nance. Nance is coming off a strong start against North Carolina, going 6 innings and allowing one run on three hits with four strikeouts. He has shown flashes of dominance — nine strikeouts in 5 2/3 innings against Miami — but also struggled at Stanford, allowing five runs in 4 1/3 innings.

Players to watch

For Duke, catcher Matthew Strand and third baseman Coltin Quagliano each homered and drove in three runs in the win over Wake Forest. Strand is batting .298 with 12 home runs. Quagliano has 10 home runs and 45 RBIs.

For North Carolina State, first baseman Chris McHugh went 4 for 5 with a home run and two RBIs against North Carolina on May 16. He leads the team with a .335 average and 18 home runs. Reliever Luke Hemric has a 1.98 ERA with seven saves.

Simulation forecast

Interstat’s game simulator projects a 5-2 victory for North Carolina State.

The winner advances to the next round of the double-elimination tournament.