Upcoming Event: Baseball versus Queens on May 5, 2026 at 6 p.m.
Baseball
vs Queens
Duke Tops Wright State, 4-3, In Series Finale
3/21/2005 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
March 21, 2005
Box Score
DURHAM, N.C. - The Blue Devils played their first errorless game since the season opener and it paid off as they defeated Wright State, 4-3, in the finale of their three-game series with the Raiders. All three games in the series were decided by one run, with the first two going Wright State's way. Sophomore right-hander Danny Otero picked up his third win of the season, allowing only two runs in eight innings of work. Junior John Berger had two doubles, driving in one run and scoring another.
Both teams went in order in the first two innings, with Otero picking off Amin Abusaleh in the second. The Raiders scored a run on three singles in the third, but Duke got it back in the bottom half when Berger and Ron Causey started the inning with back-to-back doubles.
The Raiders regained the lead in the top of the fourth when Abusaleh hit a line-drive home run that just snuck over the right-field wall. Otero then allowed a double to Paul Majestic, but he was gunned down trying to steal third and then a groundout ended the inning.
The Blue Devils took the lead for good in the bottom of the fourth. Brett Bartles led off with a single and then stole second. After Mike Miello went down swinging, Eric Baumann drove in Bartles with a single to left-center, but was then caught stealing. After Corey Whiting walked, Berger hit his second double of the game into the gap in left-center. Whiting, who was running with the pitch, came all the way around to score from first and Duke had a 3-2 lead.
Neither team scored again until Duke added what would prove to be an important insurance run in the seventh. Kyle Kreick chopped a one-out double over the third baseman's head and then, after Javier Socorro went down swinging, Adam Murray added a double of his own, plating Kreick.
Tony Bajockzy came on to pitch the ninth for Duke and got the first two hitters easily, but then allowed a home run to Paul Majestic, cutting the lead to 4-3. Still, Bajoczky bore down and got Ross Oeder to pop up, securing his second save of the season.
"Otero did a great job and Bajockzy only threw one bad pitch," said Head Coach Bill Hillier. "We played clean defensively and we pitched well, so we were great in two out of three facets of the game. John Berger hit it well, but we still need to hit better as a team."
Berger, who has seen limited action while recovering from off-season shoulder surgery, is 7-for-15 this season, with three doubles and a home run.
The grind for Duke (8-16) continues, as the Blue Devils begin a two-game set with Marshall tomorrow. Both Tuesday's and Wednesday's games are set for 3 p.m. Duke will send lefty Ryan Sember to the hill tomorrow.
Players Mentioned
IF
/ BaseballC / DH
/ BaseballIF
/ BaseballC
/ BaseballIF
/ BaseballOF
/ BaseballIF
/ BaseballP
/ BaseballP
/ BaseballOF
/ BaseballOF
/ BaseballDuke Baseball - Corey Muscara Opening Press Conference
Friday, June 27
Press Conference: Corey Muscara Introduction
Wednesday, June 25
Press Conference: Durham Super Regional Sunday
Sunday, June 08
Press Conference: Durham Super Regional Saturday
Saturday, June 07
