Offense Explodes for 21 Runs in Win Over NC State

Tuesday, May 19

Charlotte, N.C.

9 a.m.

Duke University

26-30

NC State

32-22

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Duke	0	0	2	4	0	0	6	3	6	21	20	0
NC State	0	3	1	1	2	1	0	1	3	12	11	0

Duke celebrates in first round game of ACC Tournament

Offense Explodes for 21 Runs in Win Over NC State

5/19/2026 2:46:00 PM | Baseball

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CHARLOTTE, N.C. - Duke tallied 21 runs on 20 hits in a 21-12 opening round victory over No. 9-seed NC State at Truist Field on Tuesday, May 19. The 16th-seeded Blue Devils (26-30) finished the contest with 18 two-out runs and went 11-for-19 at the plate with two outs, posting the program record for most runs in an ACC Tournament game.

Kaden Smith led the charge, going 3-for-5 at the plate with eight RBI, highlighted by a pair of home runs, including a grand slam in the seventh inning. Jake Lambdin also posted a strong day at the plate, with six RBI on 4-for-6 hitting.

Smith's eight RBI matches a single-game record in the ACC Tournament, as he became just the second ACC player to drive in eight runs. He joins Maryland's Mike Murphy, who accomplished the feat in 1985.

Duke's first 12 runs of the contest came with two outs and the offense finished with 11 two-out hits, equaling the total hits allowed by the Blue Devils' pitching staff.

On the mound, Sammy Petrocelli earned the win, registering a key 2.1 IP in the late innings, entering with two outs in the bottom of the sixth and maintaining Duke's lead after the Blue Devils posted six runs in the top of the seventh.

The Blue Devils advance to the second round of the ACC Baseball Championship, matching up with No. 8-seed Virginia at 9 a.m. on Wednesday, May 20. The Blue Devils and Cavaliers (35-20) meet for the first time in 2026 after not lining up on the conference calendar during the regular season.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Both teams were held scoreless in the first inning, before NC State cracked the ice with three runs in the bottom of the second.
The Blue Devils pulled within one, 3-2, in the top of the third. RJ Hamilton reached third base after a two-out single, passed ball and wild pitch, before Kaden Smith took a 2-2 pitch 396 feet over the fence in left field.
The Wolfpack doubled their lead, 4-2, with a solo shot in the bottom half of the third.
Duke loaded the bases with two outs in the top of the fourth, courtesy of a walk by Brooks Perez, and Jake Lambdin promptly cleared the bases with a triple to center field. Hamilton slashed a single through the right side, pushing Duke in front, 6-4. An RBI groundout in the home half of the inning pulled NC State within a run.
The Blue Devils were held scoreless in the fifth and sixth innings, their last zeros on the scoreboard for the contest, as NC State added three runs to build an 8-6 advantage.
Duke once again staged a two-out rally in the top of the seventh, scoring six runs after two of the first five batters were retired. Lambin started the scoring with a bases-loaded RBI single and Hamilton drove in another run with a walk after a seven-pitch plate appearance.
With the bases still loaded, Smith came to the plate and sent the first pitch he saw over 400 feet to deep left field.
The scoring continued in the top of the eighth, as Perez floated an RBI single to center field and Smith snuck a two-RBI single through the left side.
Duke's offense put up another six spot, this time in the top of the ninth, as Lambdin, Matthew Strand and Collin Anderson all registered two-RBI knocks.
Drew Bryan registered the final three outs of the contest, securing the 21-12 victory for Duke.

UP NEXT

No. 16-seed Duke returns to Truist Field for a second-round game against No. 8-seed Virginia. The Blue Devils and Cavaliers are scheduled for a 9 a.m. first pitch.
Fans can watch live on ACC Network.

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

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Team Stats

Pitching:

W: Petrocelli, Sammy (1-0)

L: Garino, Ryder (3-5)

Duke

Batting:

2B: Quagliano, Coltin 1 ; Strand, Matthew 1

3B: Lambdin, Jake 1

HR: Smith, Kaden 2

RBI: Anderson, Collin 2 ; Hamilton, RJ 2 ; Lambdin, Jake 6 ; Perez, Brooks 1 ; Strand, Matthew 2 ; Smith, Kaden 8

Base Running:

RUNS: Albright, Tyler 3 ; Bell, Andrew 1 ; Hamilton, RJ 3 ; Lambdin, Jake 2 ; Perez, Brooks 3 ; Quagliano, Coltin 3 ; Strand, Matthew 1 ; Zorn, Adin 3 ; Smith, Kaden 2