In an intense rivalry matchup, the North Carolina Tar Heels secured the top seed for the ACC baseball tournament with a thrilling 6-4 victory over the Duke Blue Devils. The game, held at Coombs Field in Durham, N.C., saw both teams battle it out until the very end.

The Tar Heels' Vance Honeycutt, who had previously struggled in the series, came up big in the decisive ninth inning. Honeycutt broke the tie game with a crucial single off Duke reliever Charlie Beilenson, igniting a late rally for UNC. Parks Harber's sacrifice fly brought Honeycutt home, giving the Tar Heels the go-ahead run.

Adding to UNC's lead, Anthony Donofrio hit a hustling double over the Blue Devils' infield, pushing the score to 6-4 in favor of the Tar Heels. This victory marks the first time since 2018 that North Carolina has secured the top seed for the ACC Tournament.

Dalton Pence, who closed down the game for the Tar Heels, showcased his prowess by striking out Duke's Kyle Johnson and Zac Morris in the final inning. Pence's impressive performance sealed the win for UNC, prompting catcher Luke Stevenson to extend a handshake to home plate umpire Ryan Clark.

While Duke fought back with a game-tying solo home run from Logan Bravo in the sixth inning, it was not enough to overcome North Carolina's late-game surge. The Blue Devils (35-16, 16-13) displayed resilience after the Tar Heels took a 4-3 lead in the fifth inning, thanks to a two-run double from Casey Cook and a run-scoring single from Parker Harber.

Yesterday's dominant pitching display from Duke's Kyle Johnson and Charlie Beilenson, who garnered a combined 14 strikeouts against UNC, was not replicated in this match. However, the Tar Heels' offensive resilience and stellar closing performance led them to a well-deserved victory.

With the No. 1 seed secured, the Tar Heels (40-12 overall, 21-8 ACC) have positioned themselves as strong contenders in the upcoming ACC Tournament. Their late-game heroics against Duke serve as a testament to their determination and ability to perform under pressure.

As both teams reflect on this thrilling matchup, UNC can relish in their accomplishment as they head into the conference tournament with a significant advantage. The Tar Heels have reclaimed their position as the team to beat, providing an exciting narrative for the upcoming ACC baseball tournament.