Blue Devils Roll to Series Victory Over No. 9 Clemson

Sunday, May 11

Clemson, SC

1 p.m.

Duke University

35-16, 16-11

Clemson

38-15, 15-12

Duke

Clemson

Blue Devils Roll to Series Victory Over No. 9 Clemson

5/11/2025 5:48:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)Postgame Notes (PDF)

CLEMSON, S.C. – Duke baseball (35-16, 16-11 ACC) secured the series victory over No. 9 Clemson (38-15, 15-12) on Sunday afternoon, downing the Tigers 8-4 behind eight unanswered runs. The Blue Devils have now won the last four series in Clemson dating back to 2015.

Freshman Henry Zatkowski and Clemson started B.J. Bailey traded clean innings in the first and second, before the Tigers scratched across two runs on the southpaw to open the scoring. Duke immediately responded in the top of the fourth inning, as Jake Hyde blasted a solo home run to right-center field, 453 feet, to cut the lead in half.

Later in the frame, Macon Winslow dropped down a squeeze bunt to score Tyler Albright to tie the ballgame at two. Zatkowski went back to the mound and worked another three innings of scoreless baseball to give the dugout a spark.

That spark came in the top of the fifth inning, as AJ Gracia gave Duke the lead with a sacrifice fly to left field to score Jake Berger from third, 3-2. Hyde crushed his second home run to right-center field to increase the Blue Devils lead to 6-2.

The trio of Mark Hindy, Ryan Calvert, and James Tallon combined to toss the final four innings on the mound, combining for three hits and two runs scored, punching out seven Tigers.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Clemson opened the scoring in the bottom of the second inning, 2-0.
In the top of the fourth inning, Jake Hyde hit a solo home run to right-center field. Macon Winslow dropped a squeeze bunt to score Tyler Albright from third, 2-2.
Duke took the lead in the top of the fifth inning, as AJ Gracia flew out to left field to score Jake Berger from third. Hyde hit a three-run home run to right center field, 6-2.
In the top of the eighth inning, Berger grounded into a double play to score Ben Rounds from third, 8-2.
Clemson tacked on a pair in the bottom of the ninth, 8-4.

NOTES

The Blue Devils improved to 244-53 (.822) when scoring three-plus runs in an inning since 2016.
Graduate Jake Hyde extended his hitting streak to 17 games on Sunday, opening the scoring for the Blue Devils in the top of the fourth inning. Hyde finished the day 2-for-5 with two home runs and four RBI. He and Albright went back-to-back in a five-run fifth inning, the first duo to do so since Hyde and Sam Harris in Miami earlier this year.
Junior Tyler Albright tallied a multi-hit contest, including a home run to right field in the top of the fifth inning. Albright scored two runs and tallied one RBI.
Duke hit three home runs in Sunday's rubber match, pushing its season tally to 92. The nine total home runs across the weekend were the most in a series since 2024, when Duke hit eight in Atlanta against Georgia Tech.
With the series win on Sunday, Duke has now won the last four series in Clemson, South Carolina, dating back to 2015.
Freshman Henry Zatkowski improved to 5-1 on the mound, working five innings of four-hit baseball against the Tigers. He allowed two runs and struck out four batters.
Duke's pitching staff combined to toss 38 strikeouts against the Clemson lineup this weekend.

QUOTES

"I just told our team; I thought that was toughness personified. I have never been a part of a more connected team. The energy, the way we were in it together. Anyone in this ballpark or watching on television had to feel that. It was real and palpable. Henry Zatkowski goes out after giving up two in the second and gives us three huge zeros. What can you say about Jake Hyde, man? I thought we put a ton of great swings on the ball all weekend against a great staff. It's a huge series win, and I want our guys to enjoy it. It will be a fun ride home." – Head coach Chris Pollard, based on his overall thoughts on the series victory on Sunday.

UP NEXT

Duke closes out the road slate on Tuesday evening traveling to Lynchburg, Virginia, for a midweek matchup against Liberty. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m.

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