Duke senior Aidan Weaver matched a career high with 11 strikeouts, while throwing five innings of one-run ball, but the Blue Devils (22-22, 8-14 ACC) fell to No. 2 North Carolina, 3-1, at Jack Coombs Field.
Weaver generated 18 whiffs during his outing, with all 11 of his strikeouts recorded as swinging K's, increasing his season total for punchouts to 70. As a whole, Duke's defense limited the second-ranked Tar Heels offense, ranked 32nd nationally for runs per game (8.2) to just three runs.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Aidan Weaver worked around two walks to start his outing, tallying a pair of strikeouts and inducing a grounder to third base to escape the first-inning jam.
- RJ Hamilton reached in the first inning but the Blue Devils were retired after four batters in the home half of the first.
- After a clean second inning by both teams, North Carolina opened the scoring in the top of the third with an RBI single up the middle.
- Weaver tallied three strikeouts in the top of the fourth, navigating around a leadoff single and a two-out walk, to increase his total to eight punchouts through four frames.
- The senior ace closed his evening with three more swinging K's in the top of the fifth, with his 11th of the night coming on his 104th pitch of the outing.
- The Tar Heels added another run with another RBI single to center field, doubling their lead, 2-0.
- Duke started the bottom of the eighth with two quick outs but back-to-back singles from Michael DiMartini and Tyler Albright forced a pitching change. A double steal by the Blue Devils on the first pitch after the change forced an errant throw and allowed DiMartini to score the Blue Devils' lone run of the contest.
- North Carolina added an insurance run in the top of the ninth and retired Duke in order in the bottom half.
UP NEXT
- The two teams return to action at Jack Coombs Field on Friday, with first pitch scheduled for 7 p.m.
- Fans can buy tickets here or stream the game on ACC Network Extra.
