Duke Outlasts No. 11 Georgia Tech, 9-7

Sunday, March 28

Durham, N.C.

11 A.M.

Duke University

10-10, 0

Georgia Tech

13-7, 0

Georgia Tech

Duke

Duke Outlasts No. 11 Georgia Tech, 9-7

3/28/2021 4:07:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score Box Score Season Stats Coach Pollard Postgame

DURHAM – The Duke baseball team scored in three of its opening four innings, including a five-run third, to propel itself past No. 11 Georgia Tech, 9-7, in the series finale on Sunday at the Durham Bulls Athletic Park.

The Blue Devils' nationally ranked opponent made things interesting late when they pulled within one at 8-7 in the top of the seventh. Fortunately, senior Michael Rothenberg added an insurance run in the bottom half following his second home run of the year to ultimately put the game away.

The Boca Raton, Fla., native paced Duke after finishing 3-for-3 with two doubles, a home run, a walk, two runs scored and an RBI. His three hits were a season high.

In addition to Rothenberg's offensive performance, graduate students Peter Matt and Erikson Nichols along with redshirt junior Wil Hoyle each recorded multiple-hit outings. Matt finished 2-for-3 with a home run, a double, two walks and two runs scored. Nichols went 2-for-4 with a run scored, an RBI and a double. Hoyle led the team with three RBIs as he closed out his day 2-for-4.

Junior Jack Carey started on the bump for the Blue Devils, allowing four runs on seven hits with two walks. Carey, a native of Summit, N.J., also recorded four strikeouts during his time on the hill.

Duke (10-10, 5-7 ACC) broke open the scoring in the bottom of the second inning when Hoyle laced a ball to center field for an RBI single to score junior Ethan Murray from second. Georgia Tech (13-7, 10-5 ACC) responded in the top of the third inning with three runs on four hits to jump in front 3-1.

The Blue Devils quickly answered by plating five runs in the bottom of the frame, tying for the most runs scored in a single inning this season, to take back a lead that they would never relinquish. During that stretch, Matt and senior Chris Crabtree hit solo shots out of the park in two of the first three at bats in the inning to set the tone. Nichols then doubled before being brought home by Rothenberg's first double of the day. Duke plated their final two runs of the frame thanks to a Hoyle two-RBI single.

The Yellow Jackets cut the deficit to 6-4 after adding one run in the top of the fourth but again Duke had an answer. The Blue Devils tacked on two additional runs in the bottom of the frame to extend their edge to 8-4. Loperfido and Matt both scored during the inning.

Georgia Tech threatened in the seventh inning, scoring three runs during the frame to pull within one. Rothenberg's long ball in the bottom half of the frame though added one final run for Duke to help the home side secure its10th victory of the year.

Sophomore Marcus Johnson and redshirt sophomore Jimmy Loper made appearances out of the Duke bullpen. Johnson recorded his first collegiate win after allowing three runs, one earned, on four hits in 3.1 innings of work. He also struck out two. Loper registered his third save of the season, closing out the game giving up just two hits and a walk, while fanning two in 2.2 scoreless innings.

The Blue Devils return to action on Tuesday when they host Liberty at the Durham Bulls Athletic Park. First pitch is scheduled for 4 p.m.

Postgame Notes:

Duke's five runs on five hits in the bottom of the third inning were the most hits in an inning this season. It also matched the most runs by the Blue Devils in a single frame (also five vs. NC Central on March 16).
Hoyle's three RBI are a career high.
Duke's three home runs were the most for a single game this season.
Six of Duke's nine runs were scored with two outs.
Loper earned his team-leading third save of the season.

#GoDuke