The Duke Blue Devils baseball squad traveled to Jack Coombs Field for a scheduled showdown with the Wake Forest Demon Deacons, only to see their hopes of a series win dissolve in a 7-2 defeat. The loss marks the final contest of the series before Saturday's pregame Senior Day ceremony, set for a 3 p.m. start.
Early Momentum Shifts
Wake Forest struck first, plating three runs in the top of the fourth inning to open a 4-0 lead. The Blue Devils answered in the bottom half, chipping away with two runs to narrow the gap, but the Demon Deacons quickly reasserted control.
A sixth‑inning insurance run stretched Wake Forest's advantage back to three, 5-2, before the visitors added another tally in the eighth. The final blow came in the ninth, when a home run capped the scoring at 7-2, sealing the victory for the Demon Deacons.
On the mound, Aidan Weaver absorbed the loss for Duke, while Troy Dressler earned the win with a solid outing for Wake Forest. Both pitchers navigated a series of early rallies, but the Demon Deacons' bats proved relentless.
Offensively, Matthew Strand continued his hot streak, launching his team‑leading 13th home run of the season, and Michael DiMartini contributed an RBI single that briefly sparked a comeback effort. Additional contributors included Matt Conte, Collin Anderson, and several other position players who fought to keep the game within reach.
The series will conclude on Saturday with a pregame Senior Day ceremony, honoring the departing class of Blue Devils. While the outcome was a setback, the team hopes to carry the momentum forward into the next chapter of the season.