Duke Drops Series Finale, 8-7, to Princeton

Sunday, March 1

Durham, N.C.

1 p.m.

Duke University

11-3

Princeton

2-5

Princeton

Duke

Duke Drops Series Finale, 8-7, to Princeton

3/1/2026 5:01:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

DURHAM, N.C. - Duke scored the game's first five runs but eventually fell, 8-7, to Princeton Sunday, March 1. RJ Hamilton and Kaden Smith both hit the first home runs of their Duke careers, but the visiting Tigers rallied with three runs in the top of the ninth to secure a win in the four-game series.

HOW IT HAPPENED

After three scoreless innings by Andy Leon, with the pitcher facing the minimum, Duke got on the board in the bottom of the third with five runs. RJ Hamilton opened the scoring with his first home run of the season, a three-run blast to right field.
Kaden Smith followed up with his first Duke home run, a solo shot to left field, and Michael DiMartini drove in Matthew Strand with a two-out RBI double.
Princeton answered with its first runs of the afternoon in the top of the fourth, with a double down the line bringing home a runner from first base.
The Tigers posted one run in each of the next four innings, knotting the score at 5-5 in the top of the eighth.
Duke regained the lead in the bottom half of the inning. The rally started with a Jake Lambdin double, his seventh of the young season. Hamilton reached base after getting hit by a pitch and Tyler Albright brought both runners home two batters later with a double to left-center field.
Princeton scored three times in the top of the ninth to take a lead it wouldn't relinquish in the bottom half.

UP NEXT

Duke (11-3) returns to Jack Coombs Field for a midweek contest against Gardner-Webb (9-3) Tuesday, March 3. The Blue Devils and Bulldogs are scheduled for a 4 p.m., first pitch.
Fans can buy tickets here or watch live on ACC Network Extra.

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

#GoDuke