North Carolina had a chance to take the Lead late in its game Friday night against Duke, the first of a three-game series.

"When Carolina came back in the sixth, we had opportunities to buckle," Duke coach Chris Pollard said.

In a series where every game mattered for both teams, Duke and UNC played as if its seasons depended on it.

With Friday night's loss, UNC's lead over Duke in the ACC Coastal Division has shrunk to 1.5 games.

Junior outfielder Griffin Conine hit a solo home run over the right field wall to put the Blue Devils up 1-0 in the bottom of the second inning.

UNC got a walk, four singles, and the help from an error to score three runs and tie the game in the top of the sixth.

The Tar Heels had a chance to add onto the lead in the top of the seventh, but left two runners on base.