DURHAM, N.C. — Clemson struggled at the plate all afternoon on Sunday. The Tigers went 0-for-8 with runners in scoring position in their 2-1 loss to Duke at Jack Coombs field in Durham, N.C.

With the loss, the Tigers dropped the three-game series to the Blue Devils. Clemson fell to 23-7 overall and 8-7 in the ACC. Duke improved to 17-15 overall and 6-9 in conference play.

“You have to give Duke credit,” Clemson head coach Monte Lee said. “Their starting pitcher went the whole ballgame. He threw strikes the whole ball game and they played well defensively. They outplayed us today.”

Despite the loss, Alex Eubanks had an impressive performance for the Tigers.  He pitched 6 2/3 innings and allowed just two runs on five hits in a losing effort. He finished the afternoon with six strikeouts and one walk.

Clemson took the lead in the top of the fourth inning after Chris Okey singled down the left field line to get things going. Seth Beer followed with a single up the middle of his own. Then Reed Rohlman appeared to hit into a potential double-play ball, but there was muffed throw at first base and Okey came around third to score the game’s first run.

Justin Bellinger’s two-out, two-run double in the sixth inning lifted Duke to a 2-1 victory over No. 16 Clemson at Jack Coombs Field on Sunday afternoon.

“The biggest difference in the game is they scored two runs with two outs on back-to-back doubles,” Lee said. “We had opportunities early in the ballgame. We had guys at first and second a couple of times and we hit into a double play. I think we hit into three double plays this afternoon. We could not get a bunt down and hit into a double play.

“We just had some tough luck offensively and we could not find a way to get that big hit with runners in scoring position. That’s the difference in this game. It’s the little things that will get you beat in this game and we did not do the little things. All weekend long we had a hard time coming up with a big two-out hit with runners in scoring position.”

Senior righthander Brian McAfee (5-2) earned the win by allowing just six hits, one unearned run and three walks with six strikeouts in a complete game.

The Tigers return home to play Western Carolina at Doug Kingsmore Stadium on Tuesday at 6:30 p.m.