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Duke Baseball: Blue Devils sweep double-header to win series against BC

By Kevin Connelly

OMAHA, NE - JUNE 26: A general view of a baseball on the field during batting practice before game one of the College World Series Championship Series between the Arkansas Razorbacks and the Oregon State Beavers on June 26, 2018 at TD Ameritrade Park in Omaha, Nebraska. (Photo by Peter Aiken/Getty Images)
OMAHA, NE - JUNE 26: A general view of a baseball on the field during batting practice before game one of the College World Series Championship Series between the Arkansas Razorbacks and the Oregon State Beavers on June 26, 2018 at TD Ameritrade Park in Omaha, Nebraska. (Photo by Peter Aiken/Getty Images) /
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The Duke Baseball team got a much needed series win on Saturday after sweeping a double-header with Boston College.

After a thrilling week defeating Texas Tech and sweeping Clemson, the Duke Baseball team had to turn the page and focus on the competition that awaited them this week.

The Blue Devils had its second matchup of the year against North Carolina Central and Duke once again handled its business winning 6-2.

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Adam Laskey (1-0) picked up his first win of the season against thee Eagles as he threw four scoreless innings, not allowing a hit and striking out three, but also walking three.

Eli Herrick, Aaron Beasley, Bryce Jarvis, and Thomas Girard all pitched in relief of Laskey allowing five combined hits, two runs, one walk, and struck out seven.

Duke struck first with two runs in the bottom of the first inning, and stayed in control for the rest of the game.

Kyle Gallagher led the way for Duke with two RBI as Joey Loperfido, Ethan Murray, and Michael Rothenberg all picked up a RBI a piece.

The Blue Devils then traveled up to Boston for a three game series with the Boston College Eagles.

In baseball, sometimes it’s just your day and that is what happened on Friday afternoon for Boston College’s Dan Metzdorf (5-2).

Metzdorf shut down the Blue Devils in BC’s 5-0 win as he pitched eight and one-third innings, scattering seven hits and striking out nine.

The only Blue Devil that was able to get to Metzdorf was Kennie Taylor who went 3-for-4 on the afternoon.

Duke got a very good start from Ben Gross (5-3) but some trouble in the field behind him in the seven inning cost the Blue Devils any chance at a potential comeback.

Gross threw six and one-third innings, allowing four runs on nine hits with no walks and striking out just one.

Matt Dockman replaced Gross and pitched one and one-third innings, surrendering three hits and one run, while Eli Herrick came in to get one out, which was via the strikeout.

Mother Nature wasn’t too kind to the Blue Devils in Boston and forced the two team to play a double-header on Saturday due to the potential of rain on Sunday.

The Blue Devils struck early in Game 1 of the double-header with three runs in the first inning and that was more then enough as Duke won 4-1.

Bill Chillari got the start and was able to pitch four and one-third scoreless innings, scattering three hits, striking out two, but walking four. Jack Carey (3-0) came in relief of Chillari and surrendered one run on two hits in two and two-third innings, while walking one and striking out two. Thomas Girard (7) came in to clean things up for a perfect six out save and give Duke the first game of the double-header.

Michael Rothernberg was able to knock in two RBI, while Matt Mervis drove in one.

Duke kept its momentum in Game 2 of the double-header, coming alive in the middle innings to cruise to a 8-0 victory.

The Blue Devils were led by its captain Kennie Taylor, going 4-for-5 with three RBI in the victory. Matt Mervis had two RBI in the win, while Michael Rothenberg and Erikson Nichols had one RBI a piece.

On the mound, Duke got a very good effort from Cooper Stinson who threw four scoreless innings, allowing three hits and surrendering four walks, but striking out six hitters.

Bryce Jarvis (3-0) came in relief of Stinson to pick up the victory after three innings of work, allowing two hits and walks, while striking out three.

Hunter Davis and Eli Herrick recorded the final six outs for the Blue Devils, allowing a combined three hits and striking out one.

The Duke Baseball team dominated the month of April, going 13-3 overall, including a 10-2 conference record in the month.

As a reward for the outstanding month, head coach Chris Pollard surprised the team with tickets to Sunday’s Boston Red Sox vs. Tampa Bay Rays game at Fenway Park on Sunday afternoon before the team flight.

The Blue Devils moved to 27-17 on the season and 13-11 in ACC play. Duke will be off until next Sunday, May 5, when the team looks to stay on the winning track with VCU coming to Durham for a double-header in which Game 1 is scheduled for 12:00pm ET and Game 2 at 4:00pm ET.

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