Lemke Leads Duke to 6-3 Win Over Louisville

Thursday, April 2

Durham, N.C.

8 p.m.

Duke University

20-12

Louisville

18-12

Louisville

Duke

Lemke Leads Duke to 6-3 Win Over Louisville

4/2/2026 11:34:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

DURHAM, N.C. - Making his first start of the season, Peter Lemke threw 5.2 innings in Duke's 6-3 win over Louisville, with Lemke shutting down a lineup that entered the game with a lineup ranked as one of the top-15 offenses in the country. Lemke allowed just one run during his outing, scattering four hits, while striking out five. The Denison transfer earned his first win of the season for the Blue Devils (20-12, 6-7 ACC). On offense, the Blue Devils were paced by a two-RBI single from Coltin Quagliano and Jake Lambdin blasted his seventh homer of the season.

Jack Hedrick earned the save, pitching the final 3.1 innings of relief and allowing just a pair of runs, while punching out five Louisville batters.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Peter Lemke was immediately faced with high leverage at-bats, as Louisville loaded the bases with just one out in the top of the first. Lemke was up to the task, however, striking out the next two batters he faced on three pitches each.
A double by Kaden Smith in the bottom of the first gave Duke its first hit of the evening, but the Blue Devils were unable to bring him home. A clean frame by Lemke in the top of the second was followed by a leadoff single by Jake Lambdin and a Collin Anderson double to start the home half of the second.
Coltin Quagliano drove both runners in, slashing a 0-2 pitch through the right side of the infield for a single.
The Blue Devils added another run in the third, with RJ Hamilton dashing home from third on a fielder's choice.
Louisville got on the board with a leadoff home run in the top of the fifth, but Lemke retired the next three Cardinals in order, with a pair of strikeouts and a grounder to second.
Duke got the run right back, taking a 4-1 lead after Lambdin sent an 0-1 pitch to dead center, with the ball traveling 412 feet on his bat.
Lemke retired the first two men he faced in the top of the sixth, but after a single by the Cardinals, Jack Hedrick was called on in relief, with Lemke exiting after 5.2 strong innings.
The Blue Devils extended their lead in the bottom half of the frame, with Hamilton singling up the middle to drive in Michael DiMartini from second.
After an RBI single in the top of the seventh made it a 6-2 game, Anderson tallied another RBI, with Lambdin running on the pitch and scoring from first base on a single to right field.
A two-out solo shot in the top of the ninth cut Duke's lead to 6-3, but Hedrick closed out the 3.1-inning save with a swinging strikeout.

UP NEXT

Duke (20-12, 6-7) and Louisville (18-12, 4-6 ACC) continue the series on Friday, April 3. First pitch at Jack Coombs Field is scheduled for 6 p.m.
Fans can buy tickets here, and the game will air 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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