In a dramatic Sunday afternoon showdown at Doug Kingsmore Stadium, Duke baseball delivered a stunning victory over Clemson with a late-inning surge. The Blue Devils rallied from a two-run deficit in the ninth inning to snatch an 11-8 win, clinching the series 2-1.
Chad Knight was the hero of the day for Duke, smashing a clutch run-scoring double in the ninth inning to give the Blue Devils the lead. The victory propelled Duke to 13-7 overall and 3-3 in the ACC, while the Tigers dropped to 12-8 overall and 1-2 in ACC play.
The game saw both teams trading blows and momentum swings throughout the afternoon. Clemson took an early lead in the second inning on an error, but Duke responded with two runs in the fourth inning on Alex Stone’s two-run single. The Blue Devils added two more runs in the fifth inning to take a 4-1 lead, but Clemson came roaring back with two runs of their own.
The game continued to be a back-and-forth affair, with the score tied at 4-4 in the seventh inning. Nathan Hall’s two-run double on an 0-2 pitch gave Clemson a 6-4 lead in the eighth, but Duke answered with a two-run homer from Luke Storm to tie the game.
Clemson seemed poised to pull ahead again in the eighth inning with a Cam Cannarella double and Cooper Ingle’s single, but Jay Beshears crushed a solo homer in the ninth inning to tie the score once more. Knight’s run-scoring double then gave Duke the lead, and Damon Lux added a three-run homer to seal the deal.
Aidan Weaver (2-1) picked up the win for Duke, while Rocco Reid (0-1) suffered the loss for Clemson. The Tigers will look to bounce back as they conclude their 10-game homestand against Winthrop on Tuesday.
Overall, it was a thrilling game between two talented teams, with Duke ultimately coming out on top with their late-game heroics. It’s a win that could have major implications for both teams as the season progresses.
