Duke Baseball: Blue Devils with huge comeback win over Clemson

The Duke Baseball team started off its crucial three game series with a much needed victory in come from behind fashion against the Clemson Tigers.

After a major and statement win over Texas Tech on Tuesday, the Duke Baseball team traveled down to South Carolina to face ACC foe the nationally ranked Clemson Tigers.

The Tigers peaked at No. 16 in the polls coming into this week.

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It feels like Mother Nature has followed the Blue Devils around on Friday nights and she made her impact once again on this matchup, delaying the start of the game for about 30 minutes and bring ferocious winds throughout the game.

Clemson got off to a fast start, scoring the first three runs of the game, but Duke responded in the fourth with fours runs of its own, taking its first lead of the game.

However, a reoccurring theme of the night would be a Clemson response as the Tigers took the lead right back with three runs in the bottom of the fourth inning.

After trading scoreless innings for the fifth and sixth innings, Duke would retake its lead in the seventh inning, plating three runs, taking a 7-6 lead.

But once again the Blue Devil lead wouldn’t last long as an aggressive Tigers team would once again retake the lead by plating two runs of its own for a 8-7 Clemson lead.

The Blue Devils looked down and out when Ethan Murray came through as Duke was down to its last strike with Kyle Gallagher on seconds as Murray placed a ball into right field,

Clemson went to the bullpen as Michael Rothenberg came to the plate and the catcher brought in his fourth RBI of the night, which ended up being the winning run for the Blue Devils as Duke stole the first game of the series from Clemson, 9-8.

Thomas Girard (6) set the Tigers down in order in the bottom of the ninth for Duke’s 22nd win of the season.

Matt Dockman (4-1) was the pitcher of record and picked up the victory after throwing two innings, allowing three hits, two runs, and striking out two.

Ben Gross started the game for the Blue Devils and he was able to go six innings, allowing four hits and four walks, while surrendering six runs and striking out three.

Rothenberg was the hero of the night for the Blue Devils going 3-for-5 with four RBI, but Ethan Murray was also vital, also going 3-for-5 with two RBI and three runs scored.

Chase Cheek and Erikson Nichols also picked up one RBI a piece for Duke in the win.

This series is crucial for the Blue Devils in its hopes of returning to the NCAA Tournament and winning the first game in the fashion that they did should give Duke confidence and momentum heading into the second game of the series on Saturday, April 20, at 3:00pm ET.

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