NORMAN, Okla. – Duke (40-20) baseball’s 2024 season ended on Sunday evening in Norman, Okla., falling to Oklahoma (39-20), 4-3, at L. Dale Mitchell Park. The Blue Devils secured the second 40-win season in program history and collected the second ACC Tournament title this year.
The Blue Devils opened the scoring in the top of the first inning, when AJ Gracia singled through the right side to score Zac Morris from second base, 1-0. Oklahoma responded in the bottom of the second inning, scoring three runs to take the lead, before adding a run in the bottom of the seventh, 4-1.
In the top of the eighth inning, Gracia delivered a huge hit, smashing a two-run home run to right center field to cut the lead to 4-3. Duke was retired in order in the top of the ninth, ending a historic season on the diamond for Duke baseball.
HOW IT HAPPENED
AJ Gracia singled through the right side to score Zac Morris from second in the top of the first inning, 1-0.
Oklahoma took the lead in the bottom of the second inning, 3-1.
The Sooners add to their lead in the bottom of the seventh, 4-1.
In the top of the eighth inning, Gracia hit a two-run home run to right center field, 4-3.
NOTES
Graduate Zac Morris finished the day 3-for-4 with two runs scored and two doubles in Sunday’s regional elimination game. It was his sixth three-hit day of the season and 25th multi-hit day of the year.
Freshman AJ Gracia tallied a two-hit day, hitting a two-run home run home run in the top of the eighth inning to cut the Oklahoma lead down to one. Gracia also recorded the opening RBI of the day in the top of the first inning.
Graduate Charlie Beilenson finished his career at Duke with 2.2 innings on the mound to close out the game. He allowed one run on three hits and struck out four batters. He ends the 2024 season with 92 strikeouts, leading the Blue Devils pitching staff.
Junior Jimmy Romano tossed two innings and struck out two batters in his final appearance of the season.
