Right-hander Alex White struck out eight over six strong innings, and first baseman Dustin Ackley posted his second straight three-RBI game to lift No. 2 North Carolina to a 9-3 baseball win over No. 24 Virginia on Friday night in Charlottesville, Va.

The Tar Heels (41-8, 19-5 ACC) won for their 16th time in their last 17 games and beat the Cavaliers (33-16, 13-12) in the opener of a three-game series.

White (8-2) held Virginia to six hits and three runs in six-plus innings to move to 2-0 in his career against the Cavaliers. After allowing three runs over the first two innings, the Greenville product settled down and faced just two over the minimum over the next four innings.

Ackley was 2-for-3 with a two-run double in the fourth and a sacrifice fly in the eighth. Shortstop Garrett Gore was 2-for-4 with two RBIs for his third straight multihit game.

Virginia right-hander Jacob Thompson (5-3) allowed six runs on nine hits and struck out three over six innings.

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WAKE FOREST 7, DUKE 3: Ben Hunter struck out eight and allowed two runs on six hits over seven-plus innings to lead Wake Forest over visiting Duke in the opener of a three-game series.

Hunter (3-5) retired his first 10 batters and gave up just four hits over seven innings before being taken out after throwing his 127th pitch in the eighth.

It was the fourth straight victory for the Deacons (20-27, 9-15 ACC), their longest winning streak of the season. More important, Wake moved ahead of Duke (34-15-1, 8-15-1) for the eighth and final spot in the ACC tournament. The Blue Devils had a five-game winning streak end.

The heart of Wake's lineup, Allan Dykstra, Mike Murray and Dustin Hood, drove in a combined six runs.

Andrew Wolcott (3-4) took the loss for Duke.

TULANE 5, EAST CAROLINA 4: Tulane held off a ninth-inning rally by host No. 21 East Carolina to post a win in the opener of a three-game Conference USA series.

With the loss, ECU had its nine-game winning streak and 13-game home winning streak snapped.

Trailing 5-2 in the bottom of the ninth, ECU (36-14, 11-8) got three consecutive two-out hits to close to 5-4. Dustin Harrington singled through the left side and came around on Drew Schieber's second hit of the game, a double off the left-center field wall. Harrison Eldridge plated the Pirates' final run with a double down the right-field line, scoring Schieber, before Ryan Wood grounded out to short to end the game.

Shooter Hunt improved to 9-1 for the Green Wave (34-15-1, 11-6-1), allowing one run on five hits with nine strikeouts and three walks in seven innings. Seth Maness (8-1) took the loss.

Because of the threat of inclement weather, Sunday afternoon's game will be part of a doubleheader today starting at 2 p.m.

BELMONT 14-5, CAMPBELL 0-6:

Ryan Hamme, Zach Johnson and Graham Fronk hit home runs to lead Campbell to a win over host Belmont in the nightcap of an Atlantic Sun doubleheader. Belmont won the opener.

Derek Wiley hit his 13th home run of the season, and Belmont (20-28, 14-15) slugged 19 hits in the first game. Carlo Testa (6-2) got the win, allowing four hits in the seven-inning game. Justin Lilly (4-4) took the loss.

Hamme (1-3) got the win for Campbell (18-32, 11-18) in the second game.

NOTES

N.C. STATE-MARYLAND RAINED OUT: The opener of N.C. State's three-game series at Maryland was rained out. It will be made up as part of a doubleheader today beginning at 1 p.m. and will be televised on Fox Sports Net.

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