The UNC Diamond Heels secured a thrilling 4-3 victory over their arch-rivals, the Duke Blue Devils, in the first game of their highly anticipated three-game series this weekend. The win was fueled by a stellar pitching performance from junior right-hander, Connor Knapp.
Knapp, who has been a reliable starter for the Diamond Heels all season, delivered a masterful outing, scattering seven hits over 6.2 innings while surrendering just two earned runs. He struck out five Duke batters and walked only one, showcasing his impressive control and poise on the mound.
The Diamond Heels’ offense was led by sophomore shortstop, Danny Serretti, who went 2-for-4 with a pair of RBIs. Senior first baseman, Hunter Stokely, also had a strong game, collecting two hits and scoring a run.
The game was a back-and-forth affair, with both teams trading runs throughout the contest. Duke took an early 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning, but the Diamond Heels responded with two runs in the bottom of the second to take a 2-1 advantage.
The Blue Devils tied the game at 2-2 in the top of the fifth, but the Diamond Heels regained the lead with a pair of runs in the bottom of the sixth. Duke pulled to within a run in the top of the eighth, but the Diamond Heels’ bullpen was able to shut the door, securing the 4-3 victory.
The win marked the Diamond Heels’ 20th victory of the season and improved their record to 20-10 overall and 8-6 in the ACC. The series continues on Saturday with a 2:00 PM matchup at Boshamer Stadium.
*Game Highlights:*
– Connor Knapp: 6.2 IP, 7 H, 2 ER, 5 K, 1 BB
– Danny Serretti: 2-for-4, 2 RBIs
– Hunter Stokely: 2-for-4, 1 R
*Post-Game Reaction:*
– “Connor was fantastic tonight,” said UNC head coach, Scott Forbes. “He pitched with a lot of confidence and made some big pitches when we needed them.”
– “It was a great team effort,” added Serretti. “We had some big hits and played some great defense. It was a fun game to play in.”