Courtesy: Duke Photography Sophomore Nate Freiman led the Blue Devils at the plate, going 4-for-4 with a double and two RBI.

CORAL GABLES, Fla. – Leading 4-3 entering the bottom of the seventh, the Miami Hurricanes exploded for a five-run inning on their way to a 9-3 win over Duke on Thursday evening at Mark Light Field. The Blue Devils fall to 29-23 overall and 8-20 in the ACC while the Hurricanes improve to 33-20 and 15-13, respectively.

Centerfielder Blake Tekotte drew a leadoff walk before advancing to second on a sacrifice bunt by third baseman Roger Tomas to start the seventh. First baseman Yonder Alonzo followed with a double to left center to score Tekotte. Second baseman Jemile Weeks then sent an RBI-triple into the right field corner to drive in Alonzo. Rightfielder Dennis Raben then doubled to right to score Weeks and designated hitter Gus Menendez capped the frame with a two-run homer to left. 

Duke jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the first. Centerfielder Jimmy Gallagher led off the game with a single to center. Three batters later, first baseman Nate Freiman lined an RBI-double into the gap in right center to drive in Gallagher.

Second baseman Kyle Butler doubled down the right field line to start the top of the third. Following a walk to Gallagher, pitcher Jonathan Anderson moved both runners up a base with a sacrifice bunt. Freiman then singled through the left side to score Butler, giving the Blue Devils a 2-0 lead.

Miami tied the game at 2-2 in the bottom of the fourth. Alonzo got the Hurricanes going with a two-out double to center. After Weeks drew a walk, Raben sent a two-run double to left center to bring in Alonzo and Weeks. 

The Blue Devils took a 3-2 lead in the top of the fifth. Leftfielder Michael Ghizzoni singled to left to begin the frame. After moving to second on a sacrifice bunt by Butler, Ghizzoni advanced to third on a wild pitch. Two batters later, Anderson sent an RBI-single through the right side to score Ghizzoni.

Tomas drove a 2-2 offering over the left field wall for a leadoff solo shot in the bottom of the sixth to tie the game at 3-3. Miami would later load the bases with two outs and catcher Richard O’Brien drew a walk to bring in Raben, giving the Hurricanes a 4-3 advantage.

Freiman led the Blue Devils at the plate, going 4-for-4 with a double and two RBI. Anderson finished 1-for-3 with an RBI, Butler was 1-for-2 with a double and a run scored, Ghizzoni went 1-for-3 with a run scored and Gallagher finished 1-for-4 with a run scored.

Miami starter Scott Maine improved to 5-5 on the season, holding the Blue Devils to three runs on seven hits in six innings of work.

Anderson fell to 3-4 on the year despite limiting the Hurricanes to four runs on six hits in 5.2 innings pitched with two strikeouts. Freshman Jeremy Gould worked a scoreless eighth for Duke, retiring all three batters he faced.

Game two of the series will be tomorrow at 7 p.m. Senior right-hander Tony Bajoczky (9-2, 2.92 ERA) will face Miami lefty Eric Erickson (8-2, 1.93 ERA). The Blue Devils and Hurricanes will wrap up the series on Saturday at 1 p.m.

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