Wake Forest’s bid for an ACC Tournament title came to a stunning end on Friday night as Duke’s Luke Murphy and Alex Moore combined for a walk-off home run in the bottom of the 12th inning. The 10-9 victory sent the Blue Devils into the tournament semifinals and shattered Wake Forest’s hopes of a championship.
After Wake Forest took an early 3-0 lead, Duke responded with a four-run homer by Kennie Taylor in the second inning. The Blue Devils held a slim 4-3 lead heading into the eighth when Wake Forest tied it with a solo homer by Jake Reinisch. In the ninth, the Demon Deacons loaded the bases with no outs, but Duke escaped the jam with a double play and a groundout.
In the 12th inning, Wake Forest’s Zach Landry hit a two-out RBI single to put the Demon Deacons ahead 9-8. However, Duke responded with two consecutive singles to load the bases. Murphy then roped a 1-1 pitch over the right-field wall, scoring all three runners and sending the Blue Devils into a frenzy.
Moore’s home run was his third of the season and gave Duke its first walk-off win in ACC Tournament history.
For Wake Forest, the loss was a crushing blow. The Demon Deacons had fought back from a 6-3 deficit in the eighth inning, but their bullpen could not hold the lead in the extra innings. Landry’s RBI single in the 12th seemed to have given Wake Forest the momentum, but Duke’s rally shattered their hopes.
Coach Tom Walter expressed his disappointment after the game, saying, “This was a tough way to end the season. We fought hard, but we came up just short.”
The win and loss were met with contrasting reactions from both teams. Duke celebrated their dramatic victory, while Wake Forest mourned their missed opportunity.
Blue Devils’ Perspective: Duke’s players and coaches praised the team’s resilience and determination. “We never gave up,” said Murphy. “We knew we had to keep fighting, and we found a way to win.”
Demon Deacons’ Perspective: Wake Forest’s players and coaches expressed disappointment, but they also acknowledged the Blue Devils’ strong play. “Duke played a great game,” said Walter. “They made some big plays when they needed to.”
The game was a tale of two bullpens. Duke’s bullpen allowed only three runs in 11 innings, while Wake Forest’s bullpen gave up six runs in the final four innings.
Wake Forest also struggled to make contact off of Duke’s pitchers. The Demon Deacons struck out 13 times, including seven times against reliever Matt Dockman.
Duke’s walk-off win over Wake Forest was a thrilling and heartbreaking moment in the ACC Tournament. The Blue Devils’ victory was a testament to their resilience and determination, while Wake Forest’s loss was a reminder of the残酷ty of sports.
The game also highlighted the importance of strong bullpen play and the ability to make contact at the plate. As the college baseball season approaches its conclusion, teams will need to find ways to improve their bullpens and offenses if they want to make deep runs into the postseason.
