Duke baseball sweeps Miami after six-run comeback, second walk-off on Sunday

Duke made up six runs in the eight inning and overcame a three-run deficit in the 11th for their third straight one-run victory over Miami on Sunday.

The Blue Devils baseball team had a flair for the dramatic over the weekend in Durham.

Duke swept Miami with three straight one-run victories, including a walk-off from Ben Miller on Friday and a six-run comeback in the eighth inning on Sunday, to extend the program’s win streak to five games.

Miller’s heroics defined the day in the weekend opener. With two outs and the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth, he smoked a ground ball past Miami third baseman Daniel Cuvet for the mic-drop victory.

The Saturday game didn’t lower any heart rates at Jack Coombs Field. Duke jumped out to a four-run lead through the first four innings after four different Blue Devils drove in a teammate.

Miami squared the game with two runs in the sixth and seventh innings apiece, but Duke catcher Alex Stone got his turn with the cape in the bottom of the seventh for Duke. With two runners in scoring position, Stone bounced a wild ground ball off the pitcher’s mound and into the outfield to drive home the go-ahead run. Neither team got on the board in the final two innings, meaning Stone’s RBI turned out to be the deciding play of the game.

With the sweep on the line on Sunday afternoon, Miami led 7-1 in the middle of the eighth inning. Miami designated hitter Lorenzo Carrier, who finished with a game-leading three RBIs, added the last runs to the early blowout with a two-run homer.

The game seemed lost for the Blue Devils, but Duke’s batters went to work in the bottom of the frame. Left fielder Chase Krewson singled home one run before Stone doubled home another. A walk loaded the bases, and the Hurricanes’ pitching staff melted down from there.

Nick Robert got called to the mound and beaned Duke centerfielder Devin Obee to plate another run. Pinch hitter Harrison Rodgers drew a walk, and all of a sudden, the Blue Devils only trailed by two.

Two batters later, with the lead just one after a sacrifice fly, Miller stepped up as the team superhero again and belted a fly ball over the right fielder’s head for the game-tying double.

After a scoreless ninth inning forced some extra frames, the Hurricanes looked like they struck the winning blow after Miami added three runs in the top of the 11th.

With their backs to the wall, however, the Duke offense delivered again. Two singles and a walk loaded the bases before the Blue Devils got handed two easy runs from a throwing error and a balk.

The Hurricanes opted to walk Stone to face Wallace Clark instead. Clark made them regret the decision.

The Duke shortstop rifled a line drive into the left-center gap to bring home both runners in scoring position, ending the game and the weekend.

The Blue Devils, on the heels of the five straight wins they’ve pieced together, are now 24-8 on the season and 9-6 against ACC opponents. They continue their home stand with a Tuesday night game against William & Mary.