Clemson smacked three home runs and got five RBIs from Kiley Channell, as the Tigers beat No. 12 Duke, 13-11, Saturday at the Smith Family Stadium in Durham, N.C. Clemson’s three home runs came from Macey Cintron, Marian Collins and Kylee Johnson–all two-run homers–to even the three-game series.

The win was Clemson’s 10th victory over a ranked opponent this season, which ties a program record. It also snapped Duke’s seven game-winning streak.

The Tigers finished the afternoon with 13 hits. Included in those 13 hits were their three home runs and a double from Channell. Jamison Brockenbrough also drove in two runs on a 2-for-4 day, while eight different Tigers recorded a hit.

Channell finished her day 2-for-3 at the plate, while Collins and Sarah Breaux were also 2-for-4 to lead the Tigers.

Duke (37-13, 19-4 ACC), who run-ruled the Tigers on Friday to win Game 1, got a two-run home run from Gabriella Shadek in the first inning and then a solo blast from the catcher to lead off the sixth inning. The Blue Devils added five more after Shadek’s second homer, including a three-run bomb from Layla Lamar to make things interesting.

Clemson held a 13-5 lead going into the bottom of the sixth inning, and had recorded two outs, when Duke scored five more runs to get back into the game.

The Blue Devils brought the go-ahead run at home plate and with no outs in the bottom seventh inning, but starter Abby Dunning re-enter the game and shut the door on a Duke comeback.

Clemson (32-18, 13-10 ACC) took a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning when Cintron smacked a two-run homer to left centerfield with two outs.

Unfortunately, Clemson could not hold the lead. The Blue Devils answered the Tigers’ two-run first with a five-run stanza in the bottom frame. Gabriella Shadek drilled a 2-2 pitch from Clemson starter Abbey Dunning to centerfield for a two-run bomb of her own.

Clemson did not waste time getting back in the game. In the top of the second, with two outs, Brockenbrough singled to centerfield to score Sarah Breaux from second base. After a Duke pitching change, Channell doubled to left centerfield to score Taylor Pipkins and Brockenbrough to even the game at 5-5.

Brockenbrough drove in another run in the fourth to put the Tigers back in front. Her single scored Pipkins from second base and took her to third on a throwing error from the Blue Devils. Channell followed with a sacrifice fly to left to score Brockenbrough for a 7-5 lead.

After Kylee Johnson gunned down Duke’s Jada Baker at home plate to end the fourth inning, Clemson extended its lead in the top of the fifth inning when Channell, again, drove in two runs with two outs, this time smacking a 1-2 pitch up the middle and past a diving Jessica Oakland, the Duke short stop. Her two-RBI scored Johnson from third base and Brockenbrough from second.

Channell’s 2-run RBI gave the Tigers a 9-5 lead.

Collins got into the act when she sent a bomb over the centerfield wall with no outs in the sixth inning. It was a two-run shot, as well, after Cintron drew a walk to lead-off the inning for the Tigers. Collins two-run homer gave the Tigers an 11-5 lead.

Still in the six and with no outs, Johnson continued her great afternoon with a two-run homer of her own to centerfield that left the ballpark, giving Clemson a 13-5 advantage.

After giving up the five runs in the bottom of the first, Dunning settled down and went the next four innings without giving up a run. She allowed seven runs overall on seven hits, while striking out three. Dunning allowed just two hits during those four straight scoreless innings she threw.

UP NEXT

Clemson and Duke will play Game 3 of their weekend series on Sunday. First pitch is set for 5 p.m.