Riding a six-game winning streak heading into Tuesday’s matchup against in-state rival High Point, Duke looked to maintain its momentum and improve to 8-1.
But the Panthers (4-5) had different plans, tallying 17 hits in a 9-3 victory over the Blue Devils (7-2).
In his second career start, freshman Drew Van Orden began the game with three scoreless innings, but in the top of the fourth the wheels came off for Van Orden and Duke. High Point batted around the order, and the dagger came with leadoff shortstop Mike Mercurio at the plate. Mercurio, who finished the day 3-for-5 with three RBI, came through for his team with the bases loaded and a 3-1 lead, driving a line-drive double down the rightfield line. He knocked in all three runners to cap off a six-run fourth inning.
“Mercurio is a good player and a very good hitter,” head coach Sean McNally said. “We went after him and he made us pay. That’s what good hitters do.”
Duke had several chances to score off High Point starting pitcher Drew Dades. Dades surrendered six hits and five walks through five-plus innings. In the second inning, all three of the Blue Devils’ outs came at third base. Although the bottom of Duke’s order has produced thus far this season, they did not offer much help yesterday as the six through nine hitters went a combined 2-for-14 in the game.
Despite surrendering six runs in the third, the Blue Devils had a chance to battle back in the sixth. Catcher Jeff Kremer began the inning with an infield single and scored on a long double by freshman Jordan Betts, cutting the High Point lead to four. With a runner on second with no outs, the Panthers went to the bullpen. Reliever Spencer Andrews battled out of a jam by getting designated hitter Dennis O’Grady to foul out to first, and then he struck out outfielders Anthony D’Alessandro and Joe Pedevillano back-to-back.
High Point’s other big bat, Steve Antolik, entered the game batting .400, and he stayed hot. In the seventh Antolik ripped a double past the outstretched glove of third baseman Betts to score teammate Sal Pezzino and make the score 8-2, effectively killing Duke’s chances of a comeback. Eight of the Panthers’ nine batters recorded at least one hit.
McNally erased any idea about the defeat being a good loss, saying the Blue Devils played a better game in their previous loss against Richmond Feb. 19. Duke allowed two players to reach base on bunts which were intended to be sacrifice bunts, and they also had multiple baserunners thrown out, wiping away scoring opportunities.
“Mentally we weren’t sharp today,” McNally said. “We had guys coming off a good weekend. They were feeling good and relaxing—they had an off-day yesterday. Let’s hope this is a lesson moving forward.”
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