Blue Devils Walk-Off Pittsburgh in Second Round

Wednesday, May 21

Durham, N.C.

5 p.m.

Duke University

37-18

Pitt

28-27

Pitt

Duke

Blue Devils Walk-Off Pittsburgh in Second Round

5/21/2025 11:26:00 PM | Baseball

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

DURHAM, N.C. – Sophomore Macon Winslow hit a solo home run to left center field in the bottom of the ninth to tie the ballgame, before Jake Hyde drew a bases-loaded walk to walk-off Pittsburgh (28-27), 4-3, to advance to the quarterfinals.

Freshman Henry Zatkowski started on the mound for the Blue Devils (37-18), not finishing the first inning and allowing one unearned run. The Panthers would add a pair in the top of the third to extend the lead, 3-0.

Duke began to chip away in the bottom of the fifth inning, as AJ Gracia laced a double to right center field to score Wallace Clark from first, 3-1. In the bottom of the seventh inning, Gracia added his second RBI, a solo home run to right field, 3-2.

Graduate lefty Reid Easterly and junior James Tallon worked the final three innings for the Blue Devils, allowing one hit and striking out five Panthers. Tallon improved to 1-2 on the season, working a perfect ninth, before Duke found some ACC Tournament magic once again.

In the bottom of the ninth, Winslow crushed a solo home run to lead off the inning, tying the game at three. Clark reached on an error and advanced to third on a bloop single from Gracia, before the Panthers intentionally walked Ben Miller to load the bases. Hyde drew a walk to send Duke into the quarterfinals, snapping a three-game skid at the Durham Bulls Athletic Park in ACC Tournament play.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Pittsburgh opened the scoring in the top of the first inning, 1-0.
The Panthers added to their lead in the top of the third inning, 3-0.
Duke cracked the scoreboard in the bottom of the fifth inning, as AJ Gracia laced a double to right center field to score Wallace Clark from first, 3-1.
In the bottom of the seventh inning, Gracia hit a solo home run to right field, 3-2.
In the bottom of the ninth inning, Macon Winslow hit a solo home run to left center field. Jake Hyde drew a bases-loaded walk to score Clark from third, 4-3.

NOTES

Senior Wallace Clark finished the evening with a 1-for-3 line, scoring two runs and drawing a walk. Clark also added to his career hit-by-pitch tally, collecting his 40th in a Duke uniform. He is now in solo third all-time in Blue Devils lore.
Sophomore AJ Gracia had the only multi-hit contest of the day for the Blue Devils, finishing 3-for-5 with two RBI. Gracia added his 13th home run of the season on Wednesday, crushing a solo home run to right field.
Sophomore Macon Winslow tied the ballgame in the bottom of the ninth, smashing his seventh home run of the season to left center field.
Junior left-hander James Tallon worked the final inning on the mound, striking out a pair against the Panthers. Tallon earns his first win of the season, improving to 1-2 on the year.
The victory over Pitt completes the series sweep of the Panthers, improving to 4-0 on the season. It also marks the first time the two sides have met in the ACC Tournament.

UP NEXT

Duke continues its ACC title defense on Friday afternoon, as it takes on the No. 2 seed in the tournament, Florida State, at the Durham Bulls Athletic Park. First pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m.

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