CHARLOTTE, N.C. (theACC.com) – NC State and Duke missed their scheduled chance to meet during the regular season, but they will do so on Sunday with an ACC Baseball Championship title on the line.
A strong outing by Wolfpack starting pitcher Sam Highfill and timely hitting from J.T. Jarrett, Luca Tresh and Tyler McDonough spelled the difference as third-seeded NC State defeated No. 2 seed Georgia Tech 8-1 in the second tournament semifinal game Saturday at Truist Field.
NC State (30-16) and ninth-seeded Duke (31-10) will meet in Sunday’s noon championship game (ESPN2). The winner earns the ACC’s automatic berth in the NCAA tournament.
Duke’s last ACC title came in 1961, and the Wolfpack seeks to hoist the trophy for the first time since 1992. NC State last reached the tournament final in 2015, when it dropped a 6-2 decision to Florida State in Durham.
The Wolfpack and Blue Devils had a three-game series slated in Durham this past March, but the games were canceled due to COVID protocols. NC State has won 10 of 12 previous games versus Duke in ACC Baseball Championship play.
