Duke Clashes with Virginia in Second Round of ACC Tournament

Wednesday, May 20

Charlotte, N.C.

9 a.m.

Duke University

Virginia

Kaden Smith rounds the bases after a home run

Duke Clashes with Virginia in Second Round of ACC Tournament

5/19/2026 9:48:00 PM | Baseball

Watch (ACCN)Live Stats ACC Tournament Bracket Duke Notes (PDF)

CHARLOTTE, N.C. - Duke continues play at the ACC Baseball Championship, taking on No. 8-seed Virginia on May 20 after dispatching No. 9-seed NC State, 21-12, in the opening round. The Blue Devils and Cavaliers meet for the first time this season after not lining up on the conference calendar during the regular season.

First pitch at Truist Field is scheduled for 9 a.m., with Wes Durham and Bobby Moranda scheduled to have the call on ACC Network.

The Blue Devils' offense exploded for 21 runs in Tuesday's first-round contest, with 18 of those runs coming with two outs. Duke slashed 11 two-out hits, matching the total hits allowed by the Blue Devils' pitching staff.

WEDNESDAY (5/20)
No. 16 Duke vs. No. 8 Virginia
9 a.m. (ET) – Truist Field – Charlotte, N.C.
VIDEO – ACC Network
Duke – RHP – Aidan Weaver
Virginia – LHP – Henry Zatkowski

QUICK HITS

With 21 runs against NC State, Duke set a new program record for runs in an ACC Tournament game. All nine batters registered at least one hit, highlighted by Kaden Smith (3-for-5) and Jake Lambdin (4-for-6).
Smith stroked two homers, starting with a two-run blast in the third inning and punctuated by a first-pitch grand slam in the seventh frame. Duke's slugger added a two-RBI single to finish the day with eight RBI, tying the ACC Tournament single-game record and becoming just the second player to reach the threshold and first since 1985.
Smith arrived in Durham in the spring from Charleston Southern and leads the team with 47 RBI, after leading the nation in RBI per game last season.
Lambdin drove in six runs of his own, a new career high, fueled by going 3-for-4 with the bases loaded.
INF Coltin Quagliano ranks as the top infielder in the country for defensive runs saved (DRS), at 19.49 Quagliano is one of just two lone position players in top five nationally for DRS and has made several highlight plays on defense, including a jump throw from the third-base foul territory to get the batter at first base at NC State. The graduate has played and started at the hot corner in all but one game this season.
INF/OF RJ Hamilton has been a steady starter at both second base and in right field, while consistently batting second in Duke's lineup. The transfer from Vanderbilt is slashing .328/.439/.527 and is one of three Blue Devils that has eclipsed 40 RBI, with 41. The speedster was the first Blue Devil to 20 stolen bases and is 27-for-33 on the basepaths.
Hamilton had a hitting streak reach 15 games with a base knock in the first game of the doubleheader at Boston College, but after having his streak snapped in the nightcap against the Eagles, he has logged at least one hit in all but three game sinces, good for a stretch of at least one hit in 26 of his last 30 games.
C Matthew Strand leads the team with 14 homers and is second with 44 RBI. Strand has started at catcher in all but two games since February 28, after both Cider Canon and Nolan Johnson suffered early injuries this season. Catcher was a position of strength entering the season, but Strand has taken on the bulk role in stride.
Overall, the third-string catcher has evolved into one of Duke's most dangerous bats, with a .316 average and a 1.022 OPS. 12 of his 14 homers have come against conference competition, tied for the second most by any player in the ACC during league play. The Samford transfer led the team at the plate in March and hit seven of his home runs, with 22 RBI.
INF Collin Anderson, the only freshman starting in Duke's infield, has stepped into a consistent role for Duke. On defense, Anderson has made several highlight plays at both second base and shortstop, while committing just six errors all season. At NC State during the regular season, Anderson flashed the leather in the Sunday finale, with a diving stop at second to end a threat in the late innings.
Duke currently sits at 150 stolen bases this season, sixth in the country.
The Blue Devils set a new program record for stolen bases in a season on March 31, with a double steal in the first inning against Davidson that moved the Blue Devils' season total to 108, surpassing the previous record of 106.
OF Tyler Albright has worked 49 walks this season, inside the top 25 nationally. The senior missed four games while in concussion protocol but through 49 appearances, Albright has surpassed his previous season-high of 45 free passes, set last year in 62 games. Albright has also absorbed seven hit-by-pitches, and has the best on-base percentage of his career (.447).