DURHAM, N.C. (Interstat) — Kaden Smith launched two home runs and drove in six, including a go-ahead three-run blast in the eighth inning, to power the Duke Blue Devils to a 10-8 comeback victory over the Louisville Cardinals in Atlantic Coast Conference baseball on Friday night.

The win improved Duke to 21-12 overall and 2-0 in the series, while Louisville fell to 18-13.

Smith, the Blue Devils’ designated hitter, delivered the decisive blow in a back-and-forth contest that saw multiple lead changes. With Duke trailing 8-7 in the bottom of the eighth, Macon Albright walked and Chase Hamilton singled to set the stage for Smith. On a 1-1 count from Louisville reliever Peter Michael, Smith crushed a pitch deep to center field, clearing the bases and giving Duke its first lead of the night at 10-8.

The three-run homer was Smith’s second of the game and seventh of the season, capping a dominant 4-for-5 performance. He also hit a solo shot in the third inning and a two-run single in Duke’s four-run sixth.

Louisville had built an early lead and repeatedly answered Duke rallies. The Cardinals struck first in the second inning when Bayram Hot scored on an RBI single by Kade Elam. Hot then extended the lead in the sixth with a two-run homer, his sixth of the year, scoring Gavin Davis. Later in the inning, an RBI infield single by Ethan Crain made it 4-2.

Duke responded with four runs in the bottom of the sixth to tie the game. A wild pitch brought home AJ Quagliano before Smith’s two-run single and an RBI double by Matthew Strand evened the score at 6-6.

The Cardinals immediately reclaimed the lead in the seventh. Zion Rose led off with a solo homer. After Davis walked and Hot singled, Elam delivered the big blow, a three-run home run to right field that put Louisville back ahead 10-6. Elam finished 3 for 5 with four RBIs.

Duke chipped away in the bottom of the seventh on a solo homer by Collin Anderson, setting the stage for Smith’s eighth-inning heroics.

Ben Dean earned the win for Duke with two perfect innings of relief, striking out three. Aidan Weaver started for the Blue Devils, allowing four earned runs over 5 2/3 innings. Michael took the loss for Louisville, charged with three earned runs in two innings of work.

Louisville starter Wyatt Danilowicz had a unique line, holding Duke hitless over 5 2/3 innings but allowing five earned runs, walking six and hitting two batters before exiting in the sixth.

The game defied the pregame projection from Interstat, which had simulated a 7-6 Louisville victory, though Duke was a slight favorite with a 54.9% win probability according to the service’s ELO system.

The teams continue the three-game series Saturday.