In a high-scoring, back-and-forth thriller, the baseball team suffered a 9-7 loss on the road to UNC-Wilmington Wednesday.
“It was a good ball game,” head coach Bill Hillier said. “We made a couple errors, but they’re a good team.”
The Blue Devils (4-2) lost control of the contest after UNC-W (4-2) posted a three-run seventh inning off relievers Sean O’Brien and Jim Perry.
O’Brien threw to only four batters and was pulled after giving up a go-ahead, two-run double to designated hitter Lee McLean. Perry entered the game and immediately surrendered an RBI single to catcher Mark Carver. O’Brien was credited with the loss.
“I wasn’t real pleased with our relief pitching,” Hillier said. “We gave up four runs out of the bullpen—you’ve got to do a better job than that.”
Duke threatened again in the top of the eighth, scoring two runs off a Jimmy Gallagher single and an error by Cavalier leftfielder Daniel Hargrave. Gallagher was the Blue Devils’ top offensive producer, posting two hits in the game.
But UNC-W sealed Duke’s fate by scoring on three consecutive singles in the eighth to increase its lead to two. Cavalier closer Tony Bajoczky pitched a one-two-three ninth to knock off the Blue Devils.
“We need to clean our defense up a little bit and get better performances out of our relief pitchers,” Hillier said.
Duke struck early Wednesday, scoring two unearned runs in the first inning after a throwing error by Cavalier shortstop Michael Marbry.
The Blue Devils increased their lead to three after a homer by catcher Ron Causey in the top of the second.
But UNC-W halted Duke’s early momentum in a disastrous third inning for the Blue Devils when the Cavaliers batted in four runs.
After a Marbry lead-off double, second baseman Kenny Smith picked up two RBIs with a home run. Leftfielder Jason Appel followed with a single up the middle.
First baseman Jonathan Batts continued the offensive onslaught by knocking a ball over the right-field fence.
“I don’t think it was anything we did wrong,” Hillier said of the third inning. “They hit it hard a few times, and the wind was blowing, and they scored a few runs.”
The Blue Devils regained the lead after a two-run fourth with back-to-back hits by Adam Murray and Brian Smith.
“I’m pretty pleased with the way we swung the bat,” Hillier said. “At this point, I’m more concerned with the mistakes we’ve been making running the bases.”
Centerfielder Jonathan Anderson drew a walk earlier in the inning but was picked off while trying to steal second.
The Cavaliers tied the game in the fifth after Lee McLean scored on a wild pitch thrown by Duke pitcher Greg Burke.
“Burke threw six complete innings and 99 pitches, which is the most we’ve allowed him to go this year,” Hillier said. “He got a no decision—he pitched well.”
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