Duke baseball faced a tough loss against NC State, falling 18-5 in a seven-inning game. After scoring first, the Blue Devils allowed NC State to respond with six runs in the first inning, establishing a lead they never relinquished. Despite five players recording hits, Duke struggled defensively, ultimately leading to a significant defeat.

By the Numbers
  • Duke scored 5 runs while giving up 18 to NC State.
  • NC State scored 6 runs in the first inning alone.
Yes, But

While Duke managed to narrow the gap to 6-4 early in the second inning, they could not sustain momentum as NC State responded decisively, highlighting Duke's defensive issues.

State of Play
  • Duke's record now stands at 21-16 overall and 7-10 in the ACC.
  • NC State improved to 24-11 with an 8-6 conference record.
What's Next

Duke and NC State will face off again on Sunday for the final game of the series, with first pitch scheduled for 1 p.m. at Doak Field.

Bottom Line

Duke needs to improve defensively and maintain offensive consistency to turn the tide against NC State in the series finale.