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.
