Duke Halves Doubleheader at Pittsburgh

Sunday, May 8

Pittsburgh, Pa.

11:00 A.M.

Duke University

Pittsburgh

Duke Halves Doubleheader at Pittsburgh

5/8/2022 8:00:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2 GAME ONE BOX SCORE GAME TWO BOX SCORE SEASON STATS PHOTO GALLERY

PITTSBURGH, Pa. – Freshman Alex Mooney and sophomore Luke Storm each went 5-for-8 across two games as the Duke baseball team split games in a doubleheader at Pittsburgh on Sunday at Charles L. Cost Field.

The Blue Devils (20-25, 9-15 ACC) dropped game one of the doubleheader to Pittsburgh (25-19, 12-11 ACC), 3-2, but were able to bounce back and take game two. After being unable to capitalize on baserunners in game one, Duke scored in each of the first seven innings and tallied 15 runs on 17 hits in the second game of the doubleheader.

Mooney and Storm led Duke at the plate. Mooney added three runs scored, two walks and a double while Storm scored a trio of runs and was a triple shy of the cycle in game two.

Junior Billy Seidl started the second game for Duke, allowing one run on two hits and three walks in two innings of work. He struck out four in the outing.

Duke got in front quick, leading 2-1 through the second inning. Senior RJ Schreck laced a double to plate Mooney, who led off the game with a single.

The Blue Devils blew the game open with 10 runs across the third and fourth innings. Duke scored on five hits and seven free bases. Storm singled up the middle to plate the first two runs in the third before graduate student Trevor Johnson blasted a two-run home run. Graduate student Wil Hoyle highlighted the fourth inning with a grand slam.

Duke added another run in the top of the fifth inning as Storm smoked a solo home run over the wall in left center. The ball left in a hurry, jumping off the bat at 108 and traveling 355 feet. Pitt answered with a run of their own in the bottom of the inning, 13-2.

The Blue Devils added more to their tally in the top of the sixth inning. Sophomore Alex Stone doubled before Schreck recorded an RBI two-base knock.

Each team scored in the seventh as Storm led off the inning with a double before scoring on a wild pitch. Pittsburgh plated three runs in the inning to bring the game's final score, 15-5.

Sophomore southpaw Luke Fox and senior Jimmy Loper were strong in relief in game two. Fox earned the win, allowing one unearned run on two hits and four walks in 3.2 innings pitched. He fanned three in the contest. Loper surrendered just one hit and fanned three in two scoreless innings as he finished the game.

Duke outplayed Pittsburgh throughout the first game as well but was plagued by walks and leaving runners in scoring position. The Blue Devils limited Pittsburgh to just three hits but surrendered eight walks.

Senior right-hander Cooper Stinson started game one for Duke. The Peachtree Corners, Ga., native allowed three runs on two hits and four walks while striking out four in 3.2 innings of work.

Pittsburgh opened the scoring of game one in the second inning, recording a pair of runs after two walks, a single and a sacrifice fly. The hosts added to their lead in the fourth inning, scoring on a wild pitch.

The Blue Devils clawed their way back into the game, scoring in the fifth inning on an RBI single by graduate student Ben LaSpaluto. It was LaSpaluto's first run driven in as a Blue Devil.

Duke cut the lead to one in the top of the eighth inning. Consecutive singles by Mooney and junior Graham Pauley led off the inning before back-to-back walks plated the run.

Duke threatened again in the top of the ninth inning with a two-out rally. Mooney and Pauley singled to put runners on the corners with two outs but were unable to score as Duke fell, 3-2.

The Blue Devils return to action on Tuesday as they travel to East Carolina. First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.

#GoDuke