Box Score | Bracket
DURHAM, N.C. (theACC.com) – Miami was assured of a spot in the ACC Baseball Championship semifinals regardless of the outcome against Duke, but the Hurricanes had an answer for any who questioned their desire to win.
Miami rallied with three runs in the bottom of the eighth inning to slip past the Blue Devils, 7-6, in the second game of Friday’s session at Durham Bulls Athletic Park.
The Hurricanes (39-18) trailed 6-4 before tying things up on solo home runs by CJ Kayfus and Yohandy Morales. Then, following walks to Blake Cyr and Zach Levenson, Renzo Gonzalez delivered a two-out single up the middle to plate what proved to be the winning run.
For the second straight evening, Miami turned to All-ACC closer Andrew Walters at the end. Walters allowed a one-out single to Andrew Fischer in the top of the ninth but retired the next two batters for his 11th save of the season and the 25th of his career.
Miami will now turn its attention to Saturday’s semifinal versus top-seeded Wake Forest (46-9). The game will still begin at 1 p.m. as scheduled but will now be played at Boshamer Stadium on the campus of the University of North Carolina and be shown on ACCNX.
Saturday’s other semifinal matchup between No. 3 seed Clemson and No. 7 North Carolina will also start at 1 p.m. at Durham Bulls Athletic Park and will be shown on ACC Network. The schedule adjustments were due to impending rain in Saturday’s forecast and to allow for the prioritization of the participating student-athlete’s health and safety coming off Friday’s games.
Duke (35-21) will now await Monday’s announcement of the 2023 NCAA bracket and regional sites. With an RPI of 20 heading into Saturday’s game, the Blue Devils remain in a good position for a solid seeding.
Luke Storm hit two of Duke’s four home runs on Saturday, including a two-run shot in the top of the eighth that put the Blue Devils up 6-4. Solo home runs by Jay Beshears (first inning), Storm (fifth inning) and Alex Stone (sixth inning) accounted for the Blue Devils’ first three runs. Stone’s homer leading off the sixth put Duke up 3-2 and extended his current active hitting streak to 30 games.
Meanwhile, Morales finished 3-for-5 to lead Miami with four RBIs, while Kayfus (3-for-5) and Gonzalez (3-for-4) also contributed heavily to the Hurricanes’ 12-hit attack.
Carlos Lequerica (5-1) picked up the win for Miami in relief, while James Tallon (1-1) took the loss for the Blue Devils.
2023 ACC BASEBALL CHAMPIONSHIP
Durham Bulls Athletic Park
Durham, N.C.
Friday, May 26
Clemson 4, Boston College 1
Miami 7, Duke 6
#1 Wake Forest vs. #8 Notre Dame, 7 p.m. (ACC Network)
Saturday, May 27
Semifinals
1 p.m. - #4 Miami vs. #1 Wake Forest (ACC Network Extra)*
1 p.m. – #7 North Carolina vs. #3 Clemson (ACC Network)
*- at UNC's Boshamer Stadium
Sunday, May 28
Championship
Noon – Winners of Saturday’s games (ESPN2)