Eighth Inning Magic Sends Duke to ACC Championship Game Sunday

Saturday, May 25

Charlotte, N.C.

5 p.m.

Duke University

38-18

Miami

27-30

Miami

Duke

Eighth Inning Magic Sends Duke to ACC Championship Game Sunday

5/26/2024 12:21:00 AM | Baseball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)Postgame Notes (PDF)

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – For the second time in program history, Duke (38-18) will play for an ACC Championship, defeating Miami (27-30), 8-2, in Saturday's semifinal matchup.

The Hurricanes opened the scoring in the top of the fourth inning, as Daniel Cuvet hit a two-run home run to right field, 2-0. The Blue Devils, being no-hit through three innings, got on the board in the bottom of the fifth, as Zac Morris drew a bases loaded walk to score Chase Krewson, 2-1.

In the bottom of the seventh inning, Duke went to its bench calling on graduate Jimmy Evans to pinch hit in the nine hole. Evans slashed a 1-2 pitch to left field to tie the ballgame, as Devin Obee scampered home.

Junior Fran Oschell III was able to record two outs in the eighth inning, before being relieved by Charlie Beilenson to eliminate a first and second threat. Beilenson would work the final two innings for the Blue Devils to earn his seventh victory of the season.

Duke's offense came alive in the bottom of the eighth inning, batting around for the 19th time this season. Senior Alex Stone put the Blue Devils on top for good, hitting a two-run home run to center field, 4-2. Later in the frame, Obee crushed a 455-foot home run to left field, before the Blue Devils were able to tack on a pair late and push the score to 8-2.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Miami opened the scoring in the top of the fourth inning, 2-0.
In the bottom of the fifth inning, Zac Morris drew a bases loaded walk to score Chase Krewson from third, 2-1.
Jimmy Evans hit a sacrifice fly to left field to score Devin Obee from third in the bottom of the seventh inning, 2-2.
Alex Stone hit a two-run home run to center field. Obee hit a two-run home run to left field. Zac Morris reached on an error to third and Ben Miller singled through the left side to score Evans from third, 8-2.

NOTES

Duke returns to the ACC Championship game for the second time in program history and first since 2021. The Blue Devils are now 7-0 in Charlotte, N.C. and Truist Field.
Senior Alex Stone hit his 13th home run of the season and his 40th of his career. Stone's two-run shot to center field gave Duke its first lead of the night and spring boarded a six-run frame from the Blue Devils.
Junior Devin Obee hit his 14th home run of the year on Saturday, a two-run shot to left field. Obee finished the day 2-for-3 with two runs scored, including the game tying run in the bottom of the seventh inning.
Duke batted around for the 19th time this season on Saturday, scoring six runs in the bottom of the eighth inning to put the game on ice. It is the second time in the ACC Tournament that Duke has scored six-plus runs in an inning.
Graduate Charlie Beilenson worked the final 2.1 innings on the mound, allowing one hit and striking out three batters. He improved to 7-3 on the bump this season.
Graduate Jimmy Evans was huge in the Blue Devils victory off the bench going 1-for-1 with a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the seventh inning to tie the ballgame.

UP NEXT

Duke advances to the ACC Championship on Sunday afternoon in Charlotte, N.C. The Blue Devils will face fifth-seeded Florida State at noon from Truist Field.

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