University of North Carolina Athletics
Saturday, April 25
Durham, N.C.
2 PM
North Carolina
36-8-1, 17-7
at
Duke
23-23, 9-15
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | Runs R | Hits H | Errors E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Carolina | 0 | 0 | 3 | 7 | 4 | 2 | 6 | 22 | 18 | 0 | |
| Duke | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | X | 5 | 10 | 1 |
Photo by: Isabel Swindall
Diamond Heels Dominate Duke, 22-5, To Take Series
April 25, 2026 | Baseball
DURHAM, N.C. – The bats came alive for Carolina baseball to power it to a 22-5, run-rule victory in Saturday's rivalry rubber match against Duke on Jack Coombs Field.
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The No. 2 Tar Heels (36-8-1, 17-7 ACC) took their seventh straight ACC series on the back of 18 hits, the most in conference play this year, that produced their most runs since putting up 25 against Princeton in 2010. 22 is the most runs UNC has put up in an ACC contest since beating Maryland 23-8 in 2000. It is the 11th time this century that the program has scored 22 or more in a single game.
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After a pair of scoreless frames to start, Carolina put up a crooked number in five straight innings to run away with the showdown between the historic rivals. Duke would throw nine different arms in an attempt to slow down the Heels' attack, but only their starter lasted more than 1.0 inning and five pitchers went 0.1 or less. Â
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The Diamond Heels' run began and was led by its captain Gavin Gallaher, who laced a line drive to the gap in right center to score two on his third career triple. The red-hot Owen Hull popped up in the next at-bat with a double to make it 3-1 Carolina in the blink of an eye.
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It was a big day all around for the veteran Gallaher. The two-time reigning Chapel Hill Regional Most Outstanding Player had been struggling by his standards at the plate as of late, but he finished Saturday 3-for-5 with six RBIs and three runs scored. He was also big defensively, robbing a sure double after jumping to intercept a line drive in the sixth.
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Duke would tie the game at 3-3 in their half of the third, but the Heels' half of the fourth would put things to bed for good. Seven runs on five hits, three walks, and two HBPs produced the second highest scoring inning in ACC play this year for the program.
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Cooper Nicholson started with one of the HBPs (he would have both in the inning), increasing his ACC leading total to 20 on the year. What followed would be four straight singles that scored three before Hull stepped up to deliver a crushing blow once again, this time a three RBI tank of a home run to left.
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Carolina would load the bases again in that same frame, allowing Colin Hynek to work an RBI walk that made it 10-3 in favor of the visitors. UNC would score four, two, and six runs in each of the next three innings to hit the 22 they finished with.
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All 10 Tar Heels that went to the plate reached safely, nine provided an RBI, and nine scored a run. Jake Schaffner was especially excellent alongside Gallaher and Hull at the top of the order for Carolina. He finished 4-for-5 with five runs scored and two RBIs.
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Macon Winslow, in his return to Coombs Field after two years spent at Duke, record two hits, three runs, and three RBIs in the series finale. Carter French at the bottom of the order went 2-for-3 with two walks and four runs.
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Freshman Caden Glauber got the nod for his first career weekend start and picked up the win to improve to 6-0 on the year. His final line included 4.0 IP, five strikeouts, five hits, and three runs against.
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Folger Boaz, Cameron Padgett, and Jake Cackovic worked in relief of Glauber and combined for 3.0 innings allowing two runs, five hits and adding two strikeouts.
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The Tar Heels make the long trek home from Durham to prepare for another big time battle as the No. 8 ranked Coastal Carolina Chanticleers come to Chapel Hill. Coverage of the top-10 matchup will come on ACC Network with first pitch set for 7 p.m. ET.
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The No. 2 Tar Heels (36-8-1, 17-7 ACC) took their seventh straight ACC series on the back of 18 hits, the most in conference play this year, that produced their most runs since putting up 25 against Princeton in 2010. 22 is the most runs UNC has put up in an ACC contest since beating Maryland 23-8 in 2000. It is the 11th time this century that the program has scored 22 or more in a single game.
Â
After a pair of scoreless frames to start, Carolina put up a crooked number in five straight innings to run away with the showdown between the historic rivals. Duke would throw nine different arms in an attempt to slow down the Heels' attack, but only their starter lasted more than 1.0 inning and five pitchers went 0.1 or less. Â
Â
The Diamond Heels' run began and was led by its captain Gavin Gallaher, who laced a line drive to the gap in right center to score two on his third career triple. The red-hot Owen Hull popped up in the next at-bat with a double to make it 3-1 Carolina in the blink of an eye.
Â
It was a big day all around for the veteran Gallaher. The two-time reigning Chapel Hill Regional Most Outstanding Player had been struggling by his standards at the plate as of late, but he finished Saturday 3-for-5 with six RBIs and three runs scored. He was also big defensively, robbing a sure double after jumping to intercept a line drive in the sixth.
Â
Duke would tie the game at 3-3 in their half of the third, but the Heels' half of the fourth would put things to bed for good. Seven runs on five hits, three walks, and two HBPs produced the second highest scoring inning in ACC play this year for the program.
Â
Cooper Nicholson started with one of the HBPs (he would have both in the inning), increasing his ACC leading total to 20 on the year. What followed would be four straight singles that scored three before Hull stepped up to deliver a crushing blow once again, this time a three RBI tank of a home run to left.
Â
Carolina would load the bases again in that same frame, allowing Colin Hynek to work an RBI walk that made it 10-3 in favor of the visitors. UNC would score four, two, and six runs in each of the next three innings to hit the 22 they finished with.
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All 10 Tar Heels that went to the plate reached safely, nine provided an RBI, and nine scored a run. Jake Schaffner was especially excellent alongside Gallaher and Hull at the top of the order for Carolina. He finished 4-for-5 with five runs scored and two RBIs.
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Macon Winslow, in his return to Coombs Field after two years spent at Duke, record two hits, three runs, and three RBIs in the series finale. Carter French at the bottom of the order went 2-for-3 with two walks and four runs.
Â
Freshman Caden Glauber got the nod for his first career weekend start and picked up the win to improve to 6-0 on the year. His final line included 4.0 IP, five strikeouts, five hits, and three runs against.
Â
Folger Boaz, Cameron Padgett, and Jake Cackovic worked in relief of Glauber and combined for 3.0 innings allowing two runs, five hits and adding two strikeouts.
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The Tar Heels make the long trek home from Durham to prepare for another big time battle as the No. 8 ranked Coastal Carolina Chanticleers come to Chapel Hill. Coverage of the top-10 matchup will come on ACC Network with first pitch set for 7 p.m. ET.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Glauber, Caden (6-0)
L: Leon, Andy (2-3)
Batting:
2B: Schaffner, Jake 1 ; Hargett, Perry 1 ; Hull, Owen 1
3B: Gallaher, Gavin 1
HR: Hull, Owen 1
RBI: Nicholson, Cooper 1 ; Schaffner, Jake 2 ; Gallaher, Gavin 6 ; Winslow, Macon 3 ; Hargett, Perry 1 ; Hull, Owen 5 ; Howe, Tyler 1 ; Hynek, Colin 1 ; Kellis V, Rom 1
SF: Winslow, Macon 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Nicholson, Cooper 1 ; Schaffner, Jake 5 ; Gallaher, Gavin 3 ; Winslow, Macon 3 ; Hull, Owen 2 ; Howe, Tyler 1 ; French, Carter 4 ; Hynek, Colin 2 ; Kellis V, Rom 1
SB: Schaffner, Jake 1 ; Hull, Owen 1
HBP: Nicholson, Cooper 2 ; Schaffner, Jake 1 ; Gallaher, Gavin 1 ; Howe, Tyler 1 ; Paulsen, Erik 1
Batting:
2B: Runfola, Anthony 1
HR: Bell, Andrew 1 ; Hamilton, RJ 1 ; Strand, Matthew 1
RBI: Troch, Adam 1 ; Bell, Andrew 1 ; Hamilton, RJ 1 ; Strand, Matthew 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Bell, Andrew 1 ; Duncan, Andrew 1 ; Hamilton, RJ 2 ; Strand, Matthew 1
Game Leaders
AB
5
R
5
H
4
RBI
2
AB
5
R
3
H
3
RBI
6
AB
4
R
3
H
2
RBI
3
Players Mentioned
LHP
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
OF
/ BaseballINF
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
C
/ Baseball
INF
/ Baseball
RHP
/ BaseballINF
/ BaseballC
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