ChronSports’ Top 10 of 2025 — No. 6: Duke Baseball Hosts NCAA Super Regional in Durham.

As 2025 draws to a close, The Chronicle looks back at the defining moments in Duke athletics. Ranking No. 6 on the list is a historic milestone for Duke baseball: hosting an NCAA Super Regional in Durham for the first time in program history. Duke entered the postseason following an inconsistent regular season and an early exit in the ACC Tournament. Still, the Blue Devils earned a No. 2 seed in the NCAA Tournament for the third straight year, sending them on the road once again for regional play. This time, Duke traveled to Athens, Georgia, where it faced national No. 7 seed Georgia alongside Oklahoma State and Binghamton.

The Blue Devils made quick work of the Athens Regional, going undefeated in three games to capture their fourth regional title in the past eight seasons. Duke opened with a dominant performance against Oklahoma State, building a commanding early lead and securing a 12–5 victory. In the next matchup, Duke faced host Georgia. After falling behind early, third baseman Ben Miller’s three-run homer in the third inning swung the momentum. Duke held on through a back-and-forth contest to earn a 6–3 win. Oklahoma State later eliminated Georgia, setting up a rematch in the regional final. Duke needed only one game to advance, rallying with a three-run eighth inning to claim a 3–2 victory and the regional championship.

After the game, head coach Chris Pollard reflected on the team’s resilience. He noted that Duke struggled early in the season but credited the players for maintaining confidence and improving significantly down the stretch. Several Blue Devils earned recognition for their performances in Athens. Wallace Clark, Macon Winslow, Sam Harris, and Kyle Johnson were named to the All-Tournament Team, with Clark receiving Most Outstanding Player honors.

What truly set Duke’s 2025 postseason apart, however, unfolded hundreds of miles away in Oxford, Mississippi. At the Ole Miss Regional, Murray State pulled off a dramatic upset to advance, earning a Super Regional matchup with Duke. Because Murray State was the lower seed, Duke was awarded hosting rights — bringing postseason baseball to Jack Coombs Field for the first time.

Pollard described the moment as the culmination of a decade-long effort to elevate the program and its facilities. Although Duke was in the midst of renovations, the athletic department moved quickly to prepare the stadium. Temporary seating expanded capacity, while standing-room areas and outfield suites helped accommodate the surge of fans.

The effort paid off in Game 1 of the Super Regional. Duke defeated Murray State 7–4 in front of a program-record crowd of 2,686. Kyle Johnson led the offense with four hits and five RBIs, pushing Duke to within one win of its first College World Series appearance since 1961.

Pollard praised the atmosphere after the victory, noting the energy from the crowd and its impact on the team’s performance. Despite the momentum, the Super Regional was far from over. Murray State rebounded to win the next two games, stunning Duke and advancing to the College World Series for the first time in school history. The aftermath was swift: Pollard accepted the head coaching position at Virginia, and Duke’s roster was hit hard by transfers and draft departures. Wake Forest pitching coach Corey Muscara was later hired to rebuild the program.

Though the season ended in disappointment, the significance of hosting a Super Regional remains. For Duke fans, the electric atmosphere and historic achievement at Jack Coombs Field stand as one of the most memorable moments in Blue Devil athletics in 2025.