TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (Interstat) — Behind a dominant pitching performance from starter Andy Leon and a decisive grand slam from Matthew Strand, the Duke Blue Devils salvaged the final game of their Atlantic Coast Conference series with an 11-4 victory over the Florida State Seminoles on Sunday evening at Mike Martin Field at Dick Howser Stadium.

The win snapped a two-game skid in the series for Duke (18-12, 3-6 ACC) and handed Florida State (21-6, 6-3) just its sixth loss of the season, defying pregame projections that heavily favored the Seminoles.

The most important part of the game unfolded in the top of the fourth inning, turning a manageable deficit into a rout. Already leading 2-0, Duke loaded the bases with one out on singles by Brooks Perez and AJ Albright and a sacrifice bunt. Florida State intentionally walked Wallace Smith to set up a potential double play. Strand, the Duke catcher, demolished the strategy by launching a 1-0 pitch deep over the left-field wall for a grand slam, clearing the bases and catapulting the Blue Devils to a 7-0 lead. The four-run blast provided an insurmountable cushion and deflated the home crowd.

That offensive explosion was more than enough support for Leon, the top star for Duke. The right-hander delivered a masterful outing, carrying a no-hit bid into the sixth inning. He ultimately pitched 5 1/3 innings, allowing one run on just one hit—a sixth-inning RBI double by Cam Carnes—while striking out nine and walking two. This performance was a stark turnaround from his previous start, a loss at Virginia Tech where he allowed four earned runs in 3 2/3 innings.

Leon set the tone early, striking out the side in the first inning and keeping a potent Seminoles lineup off balance with a combination of velocity and command. He retired 16 of the first 18 batters he faced before Carnes’ double ended both the no-hit and shutout bids.

Duke’s offense compiled 12 hits, with Michael DiMartini going 3 for 5 with two doubles and three runs scored. Perez was a perfect 2 for 2 with three RBIs and two walks, while RJ Hamilton drove in three runs, including a ninth-inning RBI double. Every run proved critical as Florida State chipped away late.

The Seminoles scored single runs in the sixth, seventh and eighth innings, and added another in the ninth on a wild pitch that scored AJ Kelvyn, who had tripled. Duke relievers Marcello Mastroianni and Ben Dean combined for 3 2/3 innings of hitless relief, striking out eight batters, though they allowed three combined runs on walks and errors.

Florida State used seven pitchers in the loss. Starter Jake Echols provided two scoreless innings of relief, but the damage was done earlier against the bullpen. The Seminoles managed only eight hits and struck out 17 times as a team.

Duke added insurance runs in the seventh and ninth innings to secure the series-avoiding victory. Hamilton’s sacrifice fly in the seventh scored Zac Quagliano, and in the ninth, a Perez sacrifice fly and Hamilton’s double brought home two more.

The Blue Devils look to build on the win when they host Davidson on Tuesday. Florida State, which saw its eight-game home winning streak end, travels to face Stetson on Tuesday before a key ACC road series at Virginia.