LIVE Updates: Duke Defeats Virginia Tech in Thrilling Game One – Full Recap, Analysis, and Key Moments
The clash between the Duke Blue Devils and the Virginia Tech Hokies in the opening game of their crucial ACC series lived up to all expectations — and then some. Under the Friday night lights of Jack Coombs Field, Duke pulled off an electric 6–3 victory in 11 dramatic innings, led by an unforgettable walk-off home run from freshman phenom AJ Gracia.
Let’s break down everything — pitch by pitch, inning by inning — and explore how this win impacts both programs as they battle for postseason positioning.
Game Details:
- Date: April 25, 2025
- Location: Jack Coombs Field, Durham, NC
- Final Score: Duke 6, Virginia Tech 3 (11 Innings)
- Attendance: 2,648 (near sellout crowd)
Pregame Storylines
Coming into the series:
- Duke (28–14 overall, 12–9 ACC) was riding a wave of momentum, fresh off a series win over Louisville.
- Virginia Tech (26–15 overall, 10–11 ACC) had shown resilience but desperately needed a series win to bolster their NCAA Tournament resume.
The game was expected to be a tight battle between two teams capable of explosive offense — but both sides’ pitching depth would prove just as crucial.
Inning-by-Inning Breakdown
1st Inning
- Top of 1st:
Duke starter Jonathan Santucci worked around a leadoff walk, striking out two batters to set an early tone. - Bottom of 1st:
Virginia Tech’s Brett Renfrow looked sharp, retiring the Blue Devils in order with a pair of groundouts and a strikeout.
2nd Inning
- Top of 2nd:
Another clean inning for Santucci, using a wicked slider to induce two ground balls. - Bottom of 2nd:
Duke struck first!
Ben Rounds crushed a 1-2 fastball over the right-field fence for a solo homer (his 10th of the season), giving Duke a 1–0 lead.
Moments later, Jake Berger ripped a two-out RBI single, scoring Evan Goforth from second to make it 2–0 Duke.
3rd–4th Innings
Both teams’ pitchers settled into a groove:
- Renfrow struck out four across these frames.
- Santucci matched him with strong command, freezing multiple Hokies batters with his breaking ball.
5th Inning
- Bottom of 5th:
Ben Miller stepped up. Duke’s breakout slugger tied for 7th on the school’s single-season HR list by crushing a 420-foot solo shot to center.
Duke extended their lead to 3–1.
7th Inning
- Top of 7th:
Virginia Tech finally broke through.
After a leadoff walk, David Lewis unleashed a towering two-run homer to left-center, tying the game 3–3 and sending a hush over the Duke crowd.
8th–10th Innings
- Pitching duel!
Both bullpens delivered clutch performances:- Reid Easterly (Duke) was masterful, racking up 5 strikeouts across 4.1 innings of scoreless work.
- Cameron Lejeune (Virginia Tech) answered with four gritty innings, keeping Duke hitters off balance.
The tension built. Every pitch, every swing carried the weight of the game.
11th Inning: The Walk-Off Moment
- Bottom of 11th:
After back-to-back singles by Miller and Berger, AJ Gracia walked to the plate.
On a 2-1 fastball, Gracia unleashed a majestic three-run walk-off homer to right field, igniting a raucous celebration at home plate.
Final: Duke 6, Virginia Tech 3
Key Players and Performances
Duke Blue Devils
- AJ Gracia: 2-for-5, HR, 3 RBI (Walk-off hero!)
- Ben Miller: 2-for-4, HR, 2 runs scored
- Jake Berger: 3-for-5, 1 RBI
- Reid Easterly: 4.1 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 7 K (earned the win)
Virginia Tech Hokies
- David Lewis: 1-for-4, HR, 2 RBI
- Hudson Lutterman: 1-for-4, 1 run scored
- Cameron Lejeune: 4 IP, 5 H, 3 ER, 2 BB, 3 K
By The Numbers
| Stat | Duke | Virginia Tech |
|---|---|---|
| Hits | 12 | 5 |
| Runs | 6 | 3 |
| Errors | 0 | 0 |
| Home Runs | 3 | 1 |
| Strikeouts (Pitching) | 14 | 10 |
| Walks Drawn | 6 | 4 |
Turning Point of the Game
AJ Gracia’s 11th inning at-bat.
Facing a tired bullpen arm, Gracia sat on a fastball and absolutely obliterated it over the right-field fence.
It wasn’t just a win — it was a statement for Duke: they can handle pressure, they can win close games, and they have stars capable of stepping up when it matters most.
Live Fan Reactions (Social Media Highlights)
- @DukeBaseballFan22:
“GRACIA = LEGEND. Cold-blooded in extra innings. #GoDuke #WalkoffMagic” - @ACCNetwork:
“What. A. Finish. AJ Gracia sends Durham into a frenzy with a three-run bomb in the 11th. Duke takes Game 1 over VT!” - @HokiesBaseball:
“Tough loss, but proud of the fight. We’ll bounce back tomorrow. #Hokies”
Postgame Quotes
Jon Scheyer (interim postgame presser):
“Proud of our guys. We battled through adversity all night. That’s a great Virginia Tech team, and we showed we can match grit with grit. AJ’s moment was electric, but it was a total team win.”
AJ Gracia (walk-off hero):
“I was just trying to stay relaxed and hunt a good pitch. When I saw it come in, I knew it was gone the second I made contact. Unreal feeling — doing it in front of our fans was the best part.”
Virginia Tech Coach John Szefc:
“Hats off to Duke. They earned it. We had our chances but didn’t capitalize. We’ll regroup tomorrow.”
Series Outlook: What’s Next?
- Game 2: Saturday, 3:00 PM ET
- Duke sends Ryan Higgins (6-2, 3.45 ERA) to the mound.
- Virginia Tech counters with Will Adams (5-1, 3.70 ERA).
- Game 3: Sunday, 1:00 PM ET
- Key rubber match if the series is tied.
If Duke sweeps, they’ll lock up a key top-four ACC seed. Virginia Tech, meanwhile, cannot afford to fall further behind the ACC pack if theyA Win That Echoes
Friday’s game wasn’t just another notch in the win column.
It was symbolic of Duke’s season: resilience, team depth, star power, and the heart to win when the pressure’s highest.
Players like AJ Gracia are setting the foundation for a postseason run, while veterans like Ben Miller and Jake Berger continue to anchor the team with consistency and leadership.
With momentum firmly in hand, Duke controls its destiny in the ACC — and beyond.
