Duke Knocks Off No. 2 North Carolina, 3-1, Behind Stellar Pitching

Friday, April 24

Durham, N.C.

6 p.m.

Duke University

23-22, 9-14

North Carolina

35-8-1, 16-7

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
North Carolina	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	1	6	2
Duke	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	X	3	7	1

Peter Lemke pitches against North Carolina

Duke Knocks Off No. 2 North Carolina, 3-1, Behind Stellar Pitching

4/24/2026 10:05:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

DURHAM, N.C. - Duke junior Peter Lemke twirled a gem on the mound, leading the Blue Devils (23-22, 9-14 ACC) past No. 2 North Carolina, 3-1, at Jack Coombs Field Friday, April 24. Lemke tallied 7.2 innings pitched, while getting tagged for a single run that scored once he exited in the eighth inning. The transfer from Division III Denison set new personal bests for innings pitched and total pitches (101) at the D-I level and earned his second win of the season. Ben Dean entered with two outs in the top of the eighth and recorded the final four outs for his first save of the season, with four strikeouts, including three consecutive backward K's in the top of the ninth to close out the victory.

Duke scored all three of its runs in the first frame, with a fielding error and throwing error allowing both base runners, Kaden Smith and Matthew Strand, along with the batter, Michael DiMartini, to round the bases and touch home plate. The three unearned runs proved more than enough for the Blue Devils, as their defense once again held the Tar Heels (35-8-1, 16-7 ACC) to well below their season scoring average of over eight runs per contest.

With the win over the second-ranked Tar Heels, Duke logged its highest-ranked victory since defeating No. 1 Wake Forest, 10-8, March 10, 2024.

The two teams square off in the series rubber match Saturday, with a new scheduled first pitch of 2 p.m. Andy Leon is scheduled to start for Duke, while North Carolina's starter is yet to be announced.

HOW IT HAPPENED

After two of the first three batters reached base, Peter Lemke forced a pair of line drives, to third baseman Coltin Quagliano and right fielder RJ Hamilton, to post a clean start to the contest.
The Blue Devils started the home half of the first with consecutive outs, before Kaden Smith and Matthew Strand each singled to put two on with two out. Michael DiMartini lofted a fly ball to right field and the ball dropped to the turf, allowing both runners to score. The relay throw from North Carolina was errant and found Duke's dugout, sending DiMartini home from third base on the dead ball.
In the top of the second, Lemke once again faced two on with nobody out, but forced a double-play ground ball and a grounder to second base to escape the threat. The junior allowed just one base runner in the third and Duke's defense turned another double play in the top of the fourth to erase two more Tar Heel runners.
Three consecutive ground outs by Lemke led to a 1-2-3 fifth frame. In the sixth, Lemke once again faced two runners with no outs, but following a mound visit, the pitcher forced a grounder and the defense behind him turned Duke's third double play of the night.
Another clean frame, in the seventh, held North Carolina's potent offense in check. DiMartini highlighted Duke's defensive effort in the top of the eighth, with an acrobatic catch in deep center field for the inning's second out. Lemke walked a pair of batters and exited after 7.2 innings pitched, with Ben Dean entering in relief.
North Carolina scored their lone run with a bases-loaded hit-by-pitch but Dean escaped the bases-loaded jam with a swinging strikeout on a 3-2 count.
Dean remained on the mound for the ninth and struck out a trio of North Carolina hitters, with all three batters watching strike three get called.

UP NEXT

Duke goes for the ranked series victory Saturday at Jack Coombs Field. First pitch, originally scheduled for 3 p.m., is now slated for 2 p.m.
Fans can buy tickets here or stream the game live on ACC Network Extra.

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