Duke Rallies in Eighth for 7-3 Win on Senior Day

Saturday, May 16

Durham, N.C.

3 p.m.

Duke University

25-30, 10-20

Wake Forest

38-18, 16-14

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

Coltin Quagliano celebrates a home run against Wake Forest

Duke Rallies in Eighth for 7-3 Win on Senior Day

5/16/2026 7:12:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

DURHAM, N.C. - Trailing by a run in the bottom of the eighth, Duke's offense exploded for five runs, rallying for a dramatic 7-3 victory on Senior Day at Jack Coombs Field.

The Blue Devils (25-30, 10-20 ACC) celebrated Senior Day and their late heroics were punctuated by graduate Coltin Quagliano, who hit his first homer of the season, a three-run blast that traveled 413 feet to right field. Another Senior Day honoree, Matthew Strand, also homered in Saturday's series finale. It was his 14th long ball of the season and second in as many games. On the mound, Ben Dean earned the win, moving to 7-1 on the season with two shutout innings, while striking out a pair of Wake Forest hitters.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Duke mounted the game's first scoring threat in the bottom of the third inning but was held off the board. Following a leadoff ground out, the Blue Devils loaded the bases on a Tyler Albright single through the left side, Jake Lambdin single to left field and RJ Hamilton bunt single. A fielder's choice out at home plate and a fly out to left ended the threat.
Following the defensive hold, Wake Forest scratched across a run in the top of the fourth. With two outs and a runner on first base, Dalton Wentz shot a ball into shallow right field. Duke second baseman Collin Anderson dove, made the stop but threw the ball wide to first base, putting runners on the corners. Matthew Conte followed with a single through the right side for the game's first run. A fly out kept it a 1-0 game.
The Demon Deacons threatened to extend the advantage in the top of the fifth, but David Boisvert shut the door. Consecutive two-out walks to JD Stein and Javar Williams ended Jack Hedrick's day, but Boisvert induced a groundout to end the threat.
Duke put the leadoff batter on in the fourth and fifth, but a double play and pickoff, respectively, erased both threats.
Wake Forest expanded its lead to 3-0 in the top of the sixth. Andrew Costello led off with a single and scored on a Wentz double. After a fly out, Boston Torres singled home Wentz. A strikeout and fielder's choice closed the frame.
The Blue Devils answered in the bottom of the frame and cut the deficit to 3-2. Hamilton led off with a walk and scored on a one-out blast over the wall in left center by Matthew Strand.
In the top of the seventh, Wake threatened with one out as Williams singled up the middle and Luke Costello walked. A double play allowed Duke to keep it a one-run contest.
Ben Dean entered in the top of the eighth, striking out the first two batters he faced en route to a clean frame, keeping Duke in striking distance.
The Blue Devils struck for five dramatic runs in the home half of the eighth. Lambdin jump-started the rally with a double on the first first pitch of the frame. He was quickly on third base following a sacrifice bunt from Hamilton. Kaden Smith earned a walk and was pinch ran for, giving Duke runners on the corners.
Strand worked a full count before looping an RBI single to center field, tying the game at 3-3. Pinch runner Adam Troch scored on a fielder's choice as Anderson's bunt brought home the run and allowed Anderson to still reach first base.
Coltin Quagliano hammered his first homer of the season with two outs in the inning, going nearly 415 feet the opposite way, clearing the fence in right field for the 7-3 final.
Dean faced runners on second and third in the top of the ninth but secured the win with a fly out to right field.

UP NEXT

Duke will play Tuesday in the opening round of the ACC Baseball Championship at Truist Field in Charlotte, North Carolina. The full bracket, with Duke's opening round opponent and game time, will be announced following the conclusion of regular-season play in the league.

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

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