Payne was 4-for-5 with a pair of runs scored, while Pond was 3-for-5 including his third homer and three runs scored. Leadoff man Dallas Poulk went 2-for-4 with a home run, two runs and two RBIs as the top three Wolfpack hitters combined for a 9-for-14 performance with 10 RBIs.

A six-run second inning by the Wolfpack (23-11, 10-7 ACC) was the catalyst to the victory.

The Blue Devils hammered Wolfpack starter Eryk McConnell for seven runs on 11 hits through 4 1/3 innings. N.C. State reliever Joey Cutler (4-0) took over in the fifth inning to kill a bases-loaded rally on the way to his fourth win of the season. Cutler held Duke (23-12, 5-12) to one hit and a walk over 2 2/3 innings before Jimmy Gillheeney took over with a scoreless eighth and ninth to seal the win.

ALSO SUNDAY

NORTH CAROLINA 8, CLEMSON 4: Kyle Seager hit a two-run homer in the fifth to put visiting North Carolina up for good as the Tar Heels swept the weekend series.

It was Seager's third home run of the series.

The Heels (29-7, 13-4 ACC) pounded out 18 hits, including three each from Seager, Dustin Ackley and Chad Flack.

Clemson (18-17, 6-12) jumped out to a 3-1 lead in the first.

WAKE FOREST 3, VIRGINIA TECH 2: Steven Brooks scored on a wild pitch in the the ninth inning to give the host Deacons (13-21, 6-11 ACC) the win.

Ben Hunter pitched seven innings and struck out 10, but lost a chance at a decision when Sean O'Brien hit a two-out, two-run home run to tie the score for the Hokies (15-21, 3-15).

EAST CAROLINA 5, MARSHALL 3: Corey Kemp capped a three-run rally with a two-out, two-run home run in the bottom of the ninth inning to lead the host Pirates.

Harrison Eldridge tripled with one out, and Ryan Wood followed with a single to right to tie the score for the Pirates (26-9, 8-4 Conference USA). Wood reached second on Stephen Batts' ground out to second and then moved to third on a passed ball.

(The Associated Press)

LONGWOOD 8-3, N.C. CENTRAL 4-1: NCCU's Tye Gray had two hits in the nightcap as the Eagles (6-20) dropped a pair to the Lancers (20-13).

(NCCU News Release)