DURHAM, N.C. -- Carlos Rodon broke NC State's career strikeout record as the Wolfpack fell 2-0 against Duke at Durham Bulls Athletic Park on Friday night.
Rodon (2-6) pitched brilliantly for the Pack (19-14, 5-11 ACC) despite the lack of run support, mowing down 12 Blue Devils (19-16, 8-8) in 7.2 innings of work while holding Duke to two runs, one earned, on six hits and three walks. Rodon retired 12 of the last 14 batters he faced.
In his last four appearances at Durham Bulls Athletic Park, including two games against Duke, one against UNC, and one against the Cuban National Team, Rodon has gone 33.1, allowing 15 hits with a 1.35 ERA, 52 strikeouts and eight walks.
A junior from Holly Springs, N.C., Rodon passed Terry Harvey to take over as NC State's all-time strikeout king. A swinging strikeout to start the Duke 5th gave Rodon 387 for his career to set the new mark. By the end of the night, Rodon's career total grew to 391, tied for sixth all-time in ACC history. Georgia Tech's Brad Rigby owns the ACC's highest strikeout total in a three-year career with 397.
Trea Turner, Preston Palmeiro, and Garrett Suggs each contributed one hit on the evening. Turner and Palmeiro recorded their fifth and second doubles of the season, respectively.
Duke took a 1-0 lead in the second thanks to a solo shot to center by David Perkins. In the third inning, the Blue Devils cashed in a runner from third to make it 2-0 after a leadoff single to right coupled with a two-base error.
