Entering their midweek matchup, Duke and Northeastern were ranked 10th and 11th in the country in runs scored per game, respectively. But baseball is a mysterious game, and when all was said and done from the Durham Bulls Athletic Park Wednesday evening, the two squads had combined to score just three.
After dismantling in-state foe Appalachian State 5-0 Tuesday night in a game the Blue Devils commanded for all nine innings, the bats fell silent in a 2-1 defeat at the hands of the Huskies as Duke split its final midweek set before starting conference play. Consistent traffic on the basepaths and what appeared to be the beginnings of a few late rallies made things difficult for Northeastern, but the lack of timely hitting ultimately put the nail in the Blue Devils’ coffin.
“I think we’ll look back and recognize that we didn't do some things with our situational offense … when we had the chance to push some runs across and that bit us late,” head coach Chris Pollard said after the game. “We probably shouldn’t even have been batting in the bottom of the ninth if we do what we’re supposed to do in our situational offense.
This struggle to produce with runners on base was on display for the first time in the home half of the third inning. After starting pitcher Jake Gigliotti retired seven straight Duke hitters with just 12 pitches to start the game for the Huskies, graduate outfielder Giovanni DiGiacomo drew a four-pitch walk. Star shortstop Alex Mooney was hit by a pitch two batters later, and the Blue Devils (9-4) had their first real scoring chance of the game. However, a check swing from Luke Storm was called strike three, and the frame came to a close with no blood drawn from either side.
The fifth inning was a similar story, as Duke put two men on with nobody out before going down quietly with a double play and a pop out. Freshman outfielder Tyler Albright, who was the only Blue Devil with multiple hits in the game, was stranded on third base. He represented one of eight Duke baserunners that were not brought around to score Wednesday.
Trailing by two entering the bottom of the eighth, the Blue Devils were looking for a spark. Fortunately for the home team, Mooney — who has blossomed into a reliable leadoff hitter — was set to bat first. After being plunked again, the sophomore trotted to first base and Duke was in business. Just one pitch later, however, Storm hit a sharp line drive toward first base where it was corralled by Tyler MacGregor for the unassisted double play.
On the surface, this moment looked like another unfortunate play for Duke. But after graduate third baseman Jay Beshears followed it up with a towering shot over the Blue Monster in left field to cut the deficit in half, the sentiment changed to a demoralizing missed opportunity. Regardless, Beshears’ third home run of the season pulled the Blue Devils closer to Northeastern (9-1), ensuring the game stayed tight to the finish.
Over and over again, Duke would manufacture baserunners early in the inning before struggling to execute at the same level it has been able to up to this point in the young season. Regardless, the game never got out of hand.
“It was a really good college baseball game. Two good clubs went toe to toe, both teams competed [well] and played hard,” Pollard added.
The Blue Devils were certainly in it until the very end. After a scoreless top of the ninth, Duke had one last chance to extend the game. A one-out knock from Albright was followed by a four-pitch free pass for Alex Stone, and the Blue Devils were on the doorstep once again. However, a three-pitch strikeout from pinch-hitter Jonathan Santucci followed by a soft bouncer to third off the bat of Andrew Yu ended the game abruptly. The Huskies stormed the field to celebrate as Duke was left to contemplate one last failed attempt to even the score.
Despite the frustration with the bats, the Blue Devil pitching staff put together an impressive performance on the mound. After conceding only one hit to the Mountaineers thanks to dominant outings from Alex Gow, Owen Proksch and Charlie Beilenson, 10 Duke arms combined to allow just five hits and zero earned runs to Northeastern.
“We really pitched well,” Pollard said. “This was a really good offense that had been playing at a really high level … and [we only gave up] two unearned runs … so we pitched well [and] competed well.”
The only serious trouble the Blue Devils faced defensively came in the fourth inning. After a quick first three frames, Mooney made a throw across the diamond that pulled Storm off first base and allowed Danny Crossen to reach safely. One walk and one wild pitch later, the Huskies were threatening with two men in scoring position and nobody out. Consecutive strikeouts had Duke on the verge of escaping unscathed, but Gregory Bozzo hit a rocket off the wall in left field to take a 2-0 lead. Although the game felt young at the time, those two runs were ultimately all Northeastern needed.
The Blue Devils would have liked to add two wins to the resume, but they will take away a number of positives from the midweek split.
On the win over Appalachian State, Pollard remarked that Duke “pitched great, played great defense.” He called it a “really clean baseball game” and also highlighted Mooney’s superb defense at shortstop in the game.
Additionally, Andrew Fischer beat the shift for a single in the second inning against the Huskies, extending his hitting streak to nine games since entering the lineup for the series against Baylor.
“There’s no doubt that he’s given us a spark,” Pollard said. “Our offense has been better since he’s gone into the lineup.”
Looking ahead, Duke gets a chance to prove itself as it prepares for a three-game set at home against No. 6 Wake Forest to kick off ACC competition starting Friday.
“We’re doing a lot of things really well,” Pollard said. “We’re doing a lot of things that sustain good baseball.”
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