Blue Devils Rally Late, Fall in Extras

Sunday, March 22

Blacksburg, Va.

1 p.m.

Duke University

16-10, 16-10

Virginia Tech

12-10, 4-5

Duke

Virginia Tech

Blue Devils Rally Late, Fall in Extras

3/22/2026 5:20:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

BLACKSBURG, Va. – A back-and-forth rubber match saw Duke baseball rally with two late runs to force extra innings, but Virginia Tech scored in the bottom of the 10th to claim the series on Sunday, March 22.

The Blue Devils (16-10, 4-5 ACC) took an early lead with home runs from Kaden Smith and Jake Lambdin. Smith tied the game with two outs and two strikes in the top of the ninth, but the Hokies loaded the bases in the home half of extras, with a bouncing ball finding its way through the infield for the walkoff.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Duke quickly opened the scoring, with Kaden Smith blasting a 450-foot shot to left field in the top of the first. Andy Leon worked a quick bottom half, starting with a strikeout and closing the inning with a 4-6-3 double play after walking Virginia Tech's two-hole hitter.
Another home run, off the bat of Jake Lambdin in the top of the second, doubled Duke's lead. Leon once again posted a clean frame on the mound, working around a lead-off walk with three consecutive outs. The Hokies leveled the score in the home half of the third, with a two-RBI single off the bat of Nick Locurto.
The Blue Devils took the lead right back, with two runs in the top of the fourth. Lambdin brought home Coltin Quagliano with an RBI double and Lambdin scampered home after an errant throw on his steal of third base.
The hosts once again tied the score, 4-4, with two runs of their own in the bottom of the fourth, courtesy of a leadoff home run and a two-out RBI single.
Virginia Tech took its first lead, 5-4, with a RBI single in the bottom of the fifth. Another home run, this time in the bottom half of the seventh, increased the Hokies' lead to two, 6-4.
Jeff Lougee started Duke's rally with an RBI single in the top of the eighth, scoring Matthew Strand. The top of the ninth started with fly out, before Tyler Albright reached second after a throwing error by Virginia Tech's shortstop. Albright advanced to third with a fly ball to the center fielder. Down to the final strike of the game, Smith looped a full-count single to left field, knotting the score, 6-6. Aiden O'Connell entered the game and sent the game to extras with a scoreless bottom of the ninth.
Duke threatened in the top of the 10th, with Lambdin reaching second on a stolen base, but the Hokies escaped the jam. Virginia Tech loaded the bases in the bottom of the 10th and walked off the game with a bouncing ball up the middle.

UP NEXT

Duke (16-10, 4-5 ACC) returns home to host East Carolina (15-9-1) at Jack Coombs Field Tuesday, March 24.
The Blue Devils and Pirates are scheduled for a 4 p.m. first pitch. Fans can buy tickets here.

For more information on Duke baseball, follow the Blue Devils on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram by searching for "DukeBASE".

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