Duke Powers Past Campbell, 14-7

Tuesday, April 13

Durham, N.C.

6 P.M.

Duke University

14-15

Campbell

16-10

Campbell

Duke

Duke Powers Past Campbell, 14-7

4/13/2021 11:42:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score Box Score Season Stats Coach Pollard Postgame

DURHAM – Duke's eight runs on nine hits in the fourth inning powered the Blue Devils past Campbell, 14-7, in midweek action Tuesday evening at the Durham Bulls Athletic Park.

Duke finished with a season-high 14 runs on 15 hits, including eight extra-base hits.

Graduate student Chase Cheek and junior Ethan Murray led the Blue Devils at the plate as both recorded three hits. Cheek went a perfect 3-for-3 with a triple, three runs scored, and an RBI. A native of Orlando, Fla., Cheek also reached base on a walk and hit by a pitch.

Murray finished 3-for-5 with a career-high two triples and a double. He became the first player this season to record two triples in a single game and currently leads the team with three. In addition, the Crozet, Va., native's three RBIs were a season high.

Senior Josh Nifong started on the mound for the Blue Devils. The 6-7, right-hander out of High Point, N.C., allowed two runs, one earned, on four hits with two walks in three innings pitched. Nifong also struck out three.

Duke and Campbell were tied at 2-2 after the third inning but the Blue Devils separated themselves with an eight-run inning in the fourth. Cheek and Murray started the frame with back-to-back triples before redshirt junior Wil Hoyle hit a three-run home run just two batters later. A little later in the inning, senior Joey Loperfido scored from third following an error by the pitcher. Duke finished the frame with eight runs on nine hits, marking the most for a single inning in either category this year, to take a 10-2 lead.

After Duke adding another run in the fifth, the two teams exchanged three-run frames in the sixth. Senior Michael Rothenberg and Cheek reached base after being hit by pitches before back-to-back doubles from Murray and sophomore Chad Knight scored three runs to extend the Blue Devil lead to 14-5.

Campbell added two in the top of the ninth and were looking to break through for more with two on and one out but sophomore Marcus Johnson entered the game and struck out two of the final three batters to secure Duke's win.

Freshman Nick Conte earned his second collegiate win, improving him to 2-0 on the year. Conte, a native of North Providence, R.I., threw one scoreless inning with two strikeouts and a walk.

Also seeing action out of the bullpen was sophomore Jimmy Loper, who allowed just one hit and one walk while fanning two, in two innings of work.

Duke hosts Wake Forest for a three-game ACC series this weekend. First pitch for Game 1 is scheduled for 6 p.m. on Friday. The game will be broadcast on ACC Network Extra.

Postgame Notes:

Hoyle's three-run blast was his second home run in as many games.
Duke's eight runs on nine hits in the fourth inning were season highs for a single inning in both categories.
Rothenberg was hit by pitch in the sixth inning, which marked the 31st time in his career. That number ranks ninth all-time in Duke baseball history.
Murray recorded two triples in the fourth inning. He joined teammate Peter Matt as the only Blue Devils on the current roster to record two triples in a single game. Matt did so against Dartmouth in 2019 while at Penn.
Loperfido reached base for the team-leading 21st consecutive game.

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