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  • No. 17 Duke Explodes In The Fifth Inning As The Blue Devils Take The Series From Cornell

No. 17 Duke Explodes In The Fifth Inning As The Blue Devils Take The Series From Cornell

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Baseball

No. 17 Duke (4-3) sent 13 batters to the plate in the bottom of the fifth inning, exploding for nine runs to clinch the series over Cornell (1-2), 18-1, Sunday at Jack Coombs Field.

After four and a half scoreless frames, the Blue Devils bats came alive to the tune of nine runs in the fifth stanza. Andrew Yu opened the scoring with a safety squeeze to score Tyler Albright from third before Ben Rounds singled with the bases loaded to score a pair. Ben Miller reached on a fielder's choice to score Wallace Clark, and AJ Gracia singled and advanced on the run down to score a pair, including Miller from first. Albright roped a first-pitch single to left field to score Gracia and Kyle Johnson his first two RBI of the afternoon, giving Duke a 9-0 advantage.

Graduate Ryan Calvert gave Duke a scoreless inning behind the runs before the Blue Devils tacked on thanks to Johnson's first collegiate grand slam in the seventh inning. Duke added five more runs in the bottom of the eighth inning, before the trio of Max Stammel, Aidan Weaver, and Owen Proksch closed the final three frames, allowing one run on four hits and striking out five batters. 

Junior Gabe Nard was awarded the victory in relief, working two innings of one-hit baseball. Fellow junior James Tallon recorded a career-high three innings in his third collegiate start, allowing three hits and punching out two batters.

HOW IT HAPPENED 

  • Duke opened the scoring in the bottom of the fifth inning, as Andrew Yu placed a perfect safety squeeze to score Tyler Albright from third. Ben Rounds singled with the bases loaded and advanced to second on the throw to score a pair. Ben Miller reached on a fielder's choice to score Wallace Clark. AJ Gracia singled and advanced on the run down to score a pair including Miller from first. Albright roped a first-pitch single to left field to score Gracia from third. Kyle Johnson singled through the right side to score a pair, 9-0.
  • In the bottom of the seventh inning, Kyle Johnson hit a grand slam to left-center field, 13-0. 
  • Cornell broke the scoreless streak in the top of the eighth inning, 13-1.
  • In the bottom of the frame, Duke added five more runs to push the lead to 18-1. 

NOTES

  • Junior James Tallon started his third collegiate game on Sunday, working a career-high three innings and punching out two batters.
  • The Blue Devils improved to 199-66 (.751) when scoring first since 2016 and 220-48 scoring three-plus in an inning (.821).
  • Duke sent 13 batters to the plate on Sunday in the fifth inning, plating nine runs and batting around for the third time this season.
  • Sophomore Kyle Johnson hit a pinch-hit grand slam, his first collegiate grand slam. His third home run of the season ties Ben Miller for the team lead. Johnson finished the day 2-for-2 with a career-high six RBIs.
  • The Blue Devils have now homered in all seven games this season.
  • Freshman Adam Troch tallied his first career hit, a triple to right center field, recording his first two RBIs as a Blue Devil.
  • Freshman Jay Slater also recorded his first career hit on Sunday, a triple.
  • Duke's pitching staff combined to toss nine strikeouts to just allowing two walks.

QUOTES

  • "We have a mature team who is fighting through adversity, and we didn't do a good job of that on Friday night. I challenged our guys with that over the last two days. There, in the first inning, we don't catch a ball that we should catch, and we turn an out into a double. I really liked the way James Tallon handled it. We got the ground ball and turned the double play. In the fourth, in a 0-0 ballgame, Gabe Nard has two on and two out, and he makes a pitch to get off the field. I think we are doing a better job in those moments. We talked for two days to force them to make some hurry plays with our aggression on the basepaths. It started with Andrew Yu and the safety squeeze and continued through the inning, making them get on their heels." – Head coach Chris Pollard on Sunday's series-clinching victory. 

UP NEXT

  • The Blue Devils hit the road for the first time this season, traveling to Buies Creek for a matchup with Campbell. First pitch is scheduled for 5 p.m. from Jim Perry Stadium.