Pollard Earns Career Win No. 800 as No. 20 Duke Downs Georgia Tech Friday

Friday, May 16

Durham, N.C.

6 p.m.

Duke University

36-17, 17-12

Georgia Tech

38-16, 18-11

Georgia Tech

Duke

Pollard Earns Career Win No. 800 as No. 20 Duke Downs Georgia Tech Friday

5/16/2025 10:54:00 PM | Baseball

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

DURHAM, N.C. – No. 20 Duke baseball (36-17, 17-12 ACC) tied the program record for victories at home on Friday evening, run-ruling Georgia Tech (28-16, 18-11 ACC) 14-4 to level the series. Friday also marked the second-most ACC wins in program history for the Blue Devils and was head coach Chris Pollard's 800th career victory.

Sophomore Kyle Johnson was thrown into a spot start on Friday evening and produced on the mound for the Blue Devils. Johnson allowed a run in the first, before working a shutdown inning in the top of the second inning.

Following a Georgia Tech run in the top of the first inning, the Blue Devils offense went to work in the bottom half, as AJ Gracia tied the ballgame with a solo shot to right field. Jake Hyde singled through the right side to score Ben Miller from second, before Sam Harris hit a three-run home run to left center field. Harris finished the evening with a career-high six RBI, clearing a bases-loaded situation in the bottom of the fifth inning.

Duke went on to score four runs in the bottom of the third inning, highlighted by a Wallace Clark double to score a pair, 9-1. They pushed the lead to 10-1 with a bases-loaded walk in the bottom of the fourth, before Harris' three-run double ended the scoring 14-4.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Georgia Tech opened the scoring in the top of the first inning, 1-0.
Duke responded in the bottom of the first inning, as AJ Gracia hit a solo home run to right field. Jake Hyde singled through the right side to score Ben Miller from second. Sam Harris hit a three-run home run to left center field, 5-1.
The Blue Devils added to the lead in the bottom of the third inning, as Macon Winslow was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded. Jake Berger grounded out to the pitcher to score Tyler Albright from third. Wallace Clark doubled to right field to score a pair, 9-1.
Duke added to the lead in the bottom of the fourth inning, Winslow drew a walk with the bases loaded, 10-1.
In the bottom of the fifth inning, Miller doubled to score Gracia from second. Harris hit a bases-clearing double to left-center field, 14-4.

NOTES

With its 17th win in ACC play on Friday evening, Duke has posted the second-most conference wins in program history, entering the final day of the regular season with a 17-12 ledger.
The Blue Devils tied the single-season program record with their 29th victory at Jack Coombs Field on Friday. With a win on Saturday afternoon, Duke will set a new program record for home wins in a single season.
Sophomore AJ Gracia extended his hitting streak on Friday evening, pushing it to 13 games with a solo home run in the first inning. It marks Gracia's fourth home run in the first inning in his last six games.
Sophomore Sam Harris had a career day at the plate, finishing the contest 2-for-2 with two walks and his ninth home run of the season. Harris collected six RBI against Georgia Tech, a new career high.
The Blue Devils improved to 54-1 since 2023 when scoring 10-plus runs in a contest on Friday. In 2025, Duke is now 19-0 and 8-0 in ACC play.
Head coach Chris Pollard secured career win number 800 on Friday, run-ruling Georgia Tech 14-4.
Sophomore Kyle Johnson was thrown into a spot start against the Yellow Jackets on Friday, working two innings and allowing one run on one hit. He struck out one batter and improved to 3-3 on the season.

QUOTES

"I thought it was a great response by our club. Our offense delivered a great response tonight. We were on the barrel in the first inning and didn't give him any room to breathe, and even our outs were loud. We kept our foot on the gas the entire night and showed why we are one of the best offenses in the country. I am really proud of Kyle Johnson. He found out two hours before the game he was starting and went out there and competed. It was a big shutdown inning he gave us in the second, and we got some length out of Ryan Calvert and Gavin Brown. It sets up a rubber match tomorrow. It is going to be a fun day. We will honor our seniors, and there is a lot on the line." – Head coach Chris Pollard on his overall thoughts on Friday night.