Duke Tops Davidson, 7-3

Tuesday, March 2

Durham, N.C.

4 P.M.

Duke University

4-4

Davidson

4-3

Davidson

Duke

3/2/2021 9:07:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score Box Score Season Stats Coach Pollard Postgame

DURHAM, N.C. – Duke topped Davidson, 7-3, in non-conference baseball action on Tuesday at the Durham Bulls Athletic Park in downtown Durham, N.C.

Duke rattled off 10 hits in the contest, led by graduate Peter Matt and senior Joey Loperfido. Matt went 3-for-3 with five RBI, a double and a home run. Loperfido finished 3-for-4 including a double and a triple.

Freshman Luke Fox made his first career start on the mound for the Blue Devils. Fox put in 3.0 innings of work, allowing three hits, three runs (one earned) and two walks. The Waukesha, Wis., native also recorded two strikeouts.

The Blue Devils jumped out to an early lead after a Matt single drove in Loperfido from first. Matt found the plate the next at-bat after junior RJ Schreck doubled to left field. Davidson took a 3-2 lead midway through the third, but Duke responded strong in the bottom half of the inning with a three-run home run from Matt and a solo shot by Schreck in consecutive plate appearance, giving Duke a 6-3 lead. The Blue Devils added one more in the seventh as Matt brought in Loperfido with a sacrifice fly.

The Duke bullpen was dominant in relief, retiring 18 of the final 19 batters faced over the last six frames. Senior Josh Nifong was credited with the win after going a perfect 2.2 innings and matching his career-high five strikeouts.

Also in relief, redshirt sophomore Oliver McCarthy went 1.1 innings with a clean line. Sophomores Billy Seidl and Marcus Johnson threw an inning each, both recording a strikeout.

The Blue Devils return to the diamond on Friday as they host Pittsburgh (6-1, 3-0) for a series this weekend at the DBAP. Friday's first pitch is slated for 4 p.m., while Saturday and Sunday's games will begin at 3 p.m., and 1 p.m., respectively.

Postgame Notes:

Nifong matched his career high with five strikeouts, last set in relief on Feb. 15, 2020 against Army.
Duke has recorded 10+ hits in four consecutive games for the first time since April 6-9, 2019, when the Blue Devils did so against Pittsburgh in a three-game series and NC Central the following Tuesday.
Two Duke players were one hit away from the cycle as Matt needed a triple and Loperfido lacked a home run.
Schreck recorded his team-leading third home run of the season.

#GoDuke