Duke rallies late to take the series from #Clemson (AUDIO)

Caden Grice struck out six Duke batters while also collecting two hits on Sunday (Clemson Athletics)

Duke scored twice in the eighth and added five runs in the ninth to rally past Clemson 11-8 on Sunday at Doug Kingsmore Stadium. The comeback win gave the Blue Devils a 2-1 series victory after splitting Saturday’s doubleheader with the Tigers. Clemson fell to 12-8 overall and 1-2 in conference play with the loss, while Duke improved to 13-7 on the season and 3-3 in the ACC.

In a back-and-forth game that saw the Tigers erase a 4-1 deficit to lead 6-4 after seven, it was the final couple of innings that told the tale.

Duke knotted the game at six on a two-run home run from Luke Storm in the top of the eighth inning. But Clemson rallied for a run in the bottom of the frame as Cam Cannarella laced a double and scored on Cooper Ingle’s single, which extended his hitting streak to 14 games and gave the Tigers a 7-6 advantage moving to the ninth.

That’s when the Devils put the game away thanks to a pair of long balls in the ninth inning. First, Jay Beshears blasted a solo homer with one out to tie the score. Three batters later, Chad Knight ripped a run-scoring double to give Duke the lead, and Damon Lux added some insurance with a three-run homer.

The Tigers scored a run in the bottom of the ninth, but it wasn’t enough as the Blue Devils held on for the three-run victory.

Aidan Weaver (2-1) earned the victory for Duke, allowing a run on two hits in an inning and two-thirds of relief. Rocco Reid (0-1), one of eight pitchers that took the mound for the Tigers on Sunday, suffered the loss, giving up two runs without recording an out.

Clemson will conclude its 10-game homestand on Tuesday against Winthrop, with first pitch set for 6pm.

Box Score

Clemson Baseball Postgame — Erik Bakich and Riley Bertram

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