The Blue Devils traveled to Charlottesville, Va. Friday to face the No. 11 Cavaliers and appeared primed to take their last road set of the regular season after winning the series opener, 11-4, and building an impressive lead Saturday.
But a disastrous eighth inning gave Virginia momentum, and ultimately, the series.
Entering the critical eigth frame of Saturday's ballgame, Duke (32-19,13-14 in ACC)had built a 9-3 lead off the bats of Nate Freiman and Matt Williams.
Starting pitcher Andrew Wolcott, who battled Virginia hitters into deep counts all day, departed the game in the eighth having scattered six hits and allowed four runs. The Cavaliers (36-10-1, 14-9-1) then greeted Duke reliever Dennis O'Grady in the harshest of fashions.
Five consecutive batters reached base before O'Grady was able to record his first out, and the inning saw Virginia tally five runs to pull within one of the lead. Then, after holding the Blue Devils scoreless in the top of the ninth, Virginia freshman Danny Hultzen knocked the ball out of the park on the first pitch he saw, tying the score at nine.
Cavalier outfielder John Barr finished off the rally with a walkoff single past a drawn-in infield to give his team the 10-9 win.
Freiman's offensive performance--which included a two-run blast that extended his streak of conference games with a homer to five--was a bright spot for the Blue Devils.
"I can't say enough about the terrific season he is having in the middle of the order," head coach Sean McNally said. "And it's just part of what has been a terrific career."
After losing in such gut-wrenching fashion the day before, Duke had little time to regroup before Sunday's afternoon start, and the Cavaliers cruised in the series rubber match by a score of 12-1.
"We did a good job of getting ready to play today," McNally said. "There wasn't any carryover from yesterday. You have to credit Virginia-they were terrific today."
The story on Sunday was the pitching of Virginia righthander Robert Morey who quelled Duke's bats, allowing just one run over seven innings by painting the outside corner, and his run support was provided by Jarrett Parker, who had four hits and a grand slam.
In the end, what was nearly a series win for Duke ended with two sloppy defeats. Duke opens its final homestand of the season at Jack Coombs Field tonight against Georgia Tech at 7 p.m.
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