Virginia Tech blanked by Duke during Sunday's series finale

DURHAM, N.C. – Trying to harness the spirit of Saturday’s come-from-behind victory during Sunday’s rubber match, the Virginia Tech baseball team was unable to claw back from another early deficit at Duke as the Hokies were quieted by the Blue Devils, 14-0, during a seven-inning game shortened by run rule at Jack Coombs Field.

Out of sync on the offensive side of the ball, Virginia Tech (27-17, 11-13 ACC) tied its season low for hits (two), witnessing its 65-game streak of avoiding a shutout sadly come to an end. Ben Watson delivered a two-out double during the top of the first inning, extending his hitting streak to nine games, while Jared Davis contributed an infield single during the fifth inning.

Duke (30-15, 14-10 ACC) scored nine of its first 11 runs off home runs, receiving grand slam swings by Sam Harris (third inning) and AJ Gracia (fifth inning). Ben Miller accounted for the Blue Devils’ first two runs of the contest, lifting a sacrifice fly to center field during the first inning and later carrying a solo home run out of left field during the third inning.

Miller added an RBI double for Duke during the fourth inning, extending the hosts’ lead to 7-0 – the same margin from which Virginia Tech had come back to win on Saturday.

Signs appeared to be hinting at another stellar comeback by the Hokies during Sunday’s fifth inning when Clay Grady hammered a high fly ball down the left field line, despite third base umpire Darren Spagnardi ruling the ball foul. Although the call was upheld after replay review, Grady’s near three-run home run would have brought the visitors within 7-3 during the game’s middle innings with plenty of time left to track the Blue Devils down.

Gracia’s grand slam during the bottom of the fifth inning flattened Virginia Tech’s comeback chances while delivering Duke the 11-0 advantage. The Blue Devils brought eight more batters to the plate during the sixth inning, plating three more runs via Wallace Clark’s two-RBI single and Gracia’s RBI base hit.

Logan Eisenreich lasted two and one-third innings at the start for Virginia Tech, allowing four runs on three hits while issuing four walks. As a staff, the Hokies’ arms combined to record nine walks and five strikeouts – the team’s highest disparity between both categories during the 2025 season.