Gracia Breaks Freshman Home Run Record, No. 9 Duke Levels Series in Atlanta

Saturday, May 11

Atlanta, Ga.

4 p.m.

Duke University

34-15, 15-11

Georgia Tech

29-29, 13-13

Duke

Georgia Tech

Gracia Breaks Freshman Home Run Record, No. 9 Duke Levels Series in Atlanta

5/11/2024 9:35:00 PM | Baseball

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ATLANTA, Ga. – Freshman AJ Gracia put the nail in the coffin on Saturday, breaking the freshman home run record in the top of the ninth inning, hitting a two-run home run to center field for his 12th of the season, to lift No. 9 Duke (34-15, 15-11 ACC), 14-10, over Georgia Tech (29-19, 13-13 ACC).

The Blue Devils opened the scoring for the second consecutive day as Alex Stone grounded out to the pitcher to score Ben Miller from third, before the Yellow Jackets hung a six spot on the Blue Devils in the bottom of the second inning.

In the top of the fourth inning, Wallace Clark executed a two-out, two-strike approach, doubling off the wall in right field to clear the bases loaded and cut the deficit to two runs, 6-4. Georgia Tech added to their lead in the bottom of the fourth inning, pushing the score line to 7-4, before Stone crushed his 37th career home run to right center field to tie the game. Logan Bravo followed that up with a solo home run to right center field, before Miller was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, 9-7.

With the Blue Devils leading in the bottom of the seventh, 9-8, sophomore Gabriel Nard took to the top of the hill stranding a pair of Jackets in scoring position to end the threat. Duke responded in the top of the eighth scoring two runs, before Gracia extended the lead to 14-10 with a two-run home run to center field.

Graduate Charlie Beilenson entered in the eighth inning and worked the final two frames on the mound, earning his 11th save of the season. He punched out five of the six batters he faced and worked two hitless innings in relief.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Alex Stone opened up the scoring in the top of the first inning grounding out to the pitcher to score Ben Millerfrom third, 1-0.
Georgia Tech took the lead in the bottom of the second inning, 6-1.
In the top of the fourth inning, Wallace Clark doubled off the wall in right field to score a trio of Blue Devils, 6-4.
The Yellow Jackets added to their lead in the bottom of the fourth inning, 7-4.
Stone hit a three-run home run to right center field in the top of the fifth inning. Logan Bravo hit a solo home run to right center field. Miller was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, 9-7.
Georgia Tech cuts into the lead in the bottom of the fifth inning, 9-8.
Bravo hit a solo home run to center field in the top of the sixth inning, 10-8.
The Yellow Jackets tied the ballgame in the bottom of the sixth inning, 10-10.
In the top of the eighth inning, Bravo doubled to right center to score AJ Gracia from second. Devin Obee flew out to left field to score Bravo from third, 12-10.
Gracia hit a two-run home run to center field in the top of the ninth inning, 14-10.

NOTES

Duke improved to 16-1 this season and 7-1 in ACC play when scoring 10-plus runs in a game.
Senior Alex Stone finished the day 2-for-6 with two runs scored and four RBI. He blasted his 10th of the season and 37th of his career, moving into a tie for third all-time with Scott Pinoni (1992-94). Stone's multi-hit day was his 18th of the season.
Graduate Logan Bravo collected his second four-hit day of the season and 16th multi-hit contest on Saturday. He blasted two home runs in the win, leading the team with 14. Bravo and Stone hit back-to-back blasts in the top of the fifth inning, as Duke scored five runs to regain the lead.
In the fifth inning, Duke batted around for the 17th time this season, scoring five runs in the frame. The Blue Devils also scored in five of the final six frames to level the series Saturday.
Freshman AJ Gracia broke the freshman home run record in the top of the ninth inning, putting the nail in the coffin with a two-run home run to center field. He passes Andrew Fischer (2023) who blasted 11 home runs last season. Gracia finished the day 3-for-4 with four runs scored two RBI and two walks.
Graduate Charlie Beilenson tallied his 11th save of the season, inching closer to James Tallon's single season record of 12. Beilenson worked the final two innings, striking out five of the six batters he faced.
The Blue Devils improved to 194-63 (.755) when scoring first and 211-45 (.824) when scoring three-plus runs in an inning since 2016.
Sophomore Gabriel Nard improved to 2-2 on the season, working one innings in relief and allowing two hits. He stranded a pair of Yellow Jackets in scoring position in the seventh inning.

QUOTES

"Incredibly proud of our team today. I challenged them to be the toughest version of themselves today and they certainly were that. To get down early and have the fight to battle our way back in it was impressive. The job by our infield defense, a couple of huge double play turns. There in the seventh, when they had first and second nobody out and then second and third with one out, the job by Gabriel Nard to stay in the moment and execute pitches against the top of their lineup was what won us the ballgame. Charlie then comes in and does what Charlie does to end it." – Head coach Chris Pollard on his overall thoughts on today's game.

UP NEXT

Duke and Georgia Tech will complete the three-game set on Sunday afternoon from Russ Chandler Stadium. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m.

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