Duke Tops Coastal Carolina 12-4 on Opening Day

Saturday, February 20

Conway, S.C.

2 P.M.

Duke University

1-0

Coastal Carolina

0-1

Duke

Coastal Carolina

Duke Tops Coastal Carolina 12-4 on Opening Day

2/20/2021 9:14:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score Box Score Coach Pollard Postgame Interview

CONWAY, S.C. – Duke scored 12 runs on 14 hits to defeat Coastal Carolina 12-4 on Saturday afternoon and earn its first win of the 2021 season.

"First off, as I have said several times previously, we are grateful to be back competing again," head coach Chris Pollard said. "It was a great way to open up college baseball, playing in a beautiful ballpark against a perennial power and two top-25 teams squaring off. Just really good college baseball. I'm thrilled to be back competing again."

Junior right-handed pitcher Cooper Stinson got the starting nod on the mound for the Blue Devils. After allowing an unearned run and working his way out of a small jam in the opening frame, Stinson found his footing and threw three innings of shutout baseball. He finished the day giving up three runs, only one of which was earned, on two hits in 5.0 innings.

Junior outfielder RJ Schreck finished Saturday's games 3-for-4 with three RBI and a run scored to lead Duke and match his career high in hits. Ethan Murray, Joey Loperfido and Wil Hoyle chipped in with two hits each, while Peter Matt and Chris Crabtree both went yard with a two-run home run.

Crabtree's longball over the center field wall in the top of the second handed the Blue Devils a lead they would never relinquish. Duke added two more runs in the top of the fourth to create a 4-1 gap between the teams after both Hoyle and Loperfido touched home plate. Senior Michael Rothenberg started that two-run rally with an RBI single to score Hoyle from second.

The Chanticleers pulled two back in the fifth to make it a one-run game at 4-3, but Duke responded in the sixth with a three-run frame to ultimately put the game out of reach. Hoyle started the inning doubling to center field before advancing to third on a wild pitch. After an RBI groundout by Murray scored the redshirt junior, the Blue Devils saw Matt blast one over the left center fence to score an additional two runs, including Loperfido who had reached base on an error earlier in the frame.

Despite allowing a home run in the seventh, Duke tacked on five more runs in the final two frames to earn the 12-4 opening day win. Rudy Maxwell, Loperfido and Schreck (3x) all registered an RBI during that stretch, with Maxwell and Schreck earning their first doubles of the year.

Graduate right-handed pitcher Richard Brereton was the first out of the bullpen for Duke when he entered the game in the sixth. The Darien, Conn., native allowed one run on one hit in 2.0 innings but registered four strikeouts during his tenure on the hill. Sophomore Marcus Johnson closed things out for the Blue Devils throwing 2.0 innings of scoreless and hitless baseball. The Fontana, Calif., native also fanned two batters while on the mound.

Duke faces Coastal Carolina again on Sunday for a doubleheader beginning at 12 p.m. at Springs Brooks Stadium. Both games will be streamed on ESPN+ and fans can listen to the Voice of the Blue Devils Chris Edwards on GoDuke.com or on the TuneIn app.

Postgame Notes:

Duke's 12 runs in Saturday's season opener were the most to open a season since a 13-10 win over Mount St. Mary's on Feb. 10, 2007.
Six of Duke's 12 runs were scored with two outs.
All nine starting position players recorded a hit in the contest, while four finished with multi-hit games.
Hoyle recorded two doubles in the same game for the first time in his Duke career. His two hits matched his previous career high set against Air Force in 2020.
Schreck led Duke with three hits to match his career high first set at Vanderbilt in 2019.
Loperfido's four runs scored were the most in a single game for his career.
After earning the win on the mound, Stinson is now 4-0 spanning the last two seasons.
Brereton made his Duke debut, going 2.0 innings. After walking his first two batters, Brereton responded by striking out four of the final seven batters he faced.
Head coach Chris Pollard improved to 5-4 in season openers while at the helm Duke baseball.