Duke Rally Falls Short In 13-8 Loss To Winthrop

Friday, March 10

Durham, N.C.

3:00 PM

Duke University

Winthrop

Duke Rally Falls Short In 13-8 Loss To Winthrop

3/10/2006 12:00:00 AM | Baseball

By: Duke Sports Information

DURHAM, N.C. ? First baseman Jonathan Nicolla blasted a three-run homer to right center in the bottom of the eighth inning to cut Winthrop's lead to 11-8 but the Eagles got a pair of solo homers in the ninth to hold on for a 13-8 victory over the Duke Blue Devils on Friday afternoon at Jack Coombs Field. The Blue Devils fall to 7-11 on the season while the Eagles improve to 13-4.

Trailing 11-2 entering the bottom of the seventh, Duke scored three runs to cut Winthrop's lead to six. Third baseman Adam Murray singled up the middle to start the inning. After Nicolla struck out swinging, designated hitter Tim Sherlock drew a one-out walk to give the Blue Devils runners on first and second. Left fielder Daniel Palmer then laced an RBI-double down the right field line, scoring Murray. Center fielder Jonathan Anderson followed with a groundout to second, scoring Sherlock and advancing Palmer to third. Second baseman Javier Socorro capped the inning with an RBI-single to center to score Palmer.

The Blue Devils cut Winthrop's lead to three with a three-run eighth. Shortstop Brett Bartles drew a walk to lead off the inning and then advanced to second base on a one-out single by Murray. With runners on first and second, Nicolla smashed a 1-1 pitch over the wall in right center to make it an 11-8 ballgame.

The Eagles then got a pair of solo shots in the top of the ninth to seal the victory. Relief pitcher Bryn Henderson lined a 1-0 offering over the left field wall for his first career home run. Three batters later, left fielder Jacob Dempsey hit a towering shot down the right field line to cap the scoring for the Eagles.

Winthrop took a quick 4-0 lead in the opening frame. Second baseman Chris Carrara singled through the left side to start the inning. Right fielder Heath Rollins then reached on a bunt single before being forced out at second base on a fielder's choice. Shortstop Matt Repec would then draw a walk to load the bases. Center fielder Tommy Lentz followed with a bases-clearing triple to right center to give the Eagles a 3-0 advantage. Lentz would then score on a groundout by catcher Alan Robbins to cap the four-run inning.

The Eagles pushed their lead to 6-0 in the top of the second. Carrara doubled down the left field line and then scored from second on a wild pitch. After consecutive singles by Rollins and Dempsey, Repec roped an RBI-single through the left side to score Rollins.

Duke got on the board in the bottom half of the second. Right fielder Jimmy Gallagher led off the inning with a double off the right field wall. After advancing to third on a groundout by Murray, Gallagher would score Duke's first run of the game on a groundout by Nicolla.

The Blue Devils scored again in the bottom of the third to make it a 6-2 ballgame. Palmer tripled down the right field line to start the inning and then scored on an RBI-single by Anderson.

Dempsey added an RBI-double in the fourth before a three-run sixth inning gave the Eagles a commanding 10-2 advantage. Dempsey laced a two-run double to right field to score Carrara and Rollins. Robbins then doubled to left center, scoring Dempsey from second. Dempsey would then add a run-scoring sacrifice fly to left field in the seventh to push Winthrop's lead to 11-2.

Winthrop starter Alex Wilson (4-0) remained unbeaten on the year, holding the Blue Devils to five runs on eight hits in 7.0 innings of work. Duke starter Jimmy Saris (0-2) suffered his second loss of the season, allowing seven runs on 10 hits in 5.0 innings pitched.

Nicolla led the Blue Devils at the plate, going 1-for-3 with a career-high four RBI and a run scored. Palmer went 2-for-3 with an RBI and two runs scored, Anderson was 2-for-3 with two RBI and Murray went 2-for-4 with two runs scored.

Dempsey went 4-for-5 with five RBI and three runs scored to lead the Eagles on the afternoon. Carrara, Rollins and third baseman Mitch Saum all collected three hits apiece while Lentz drove in three runs in the win.

Game two of the three-game series is scheduled for 1 p.m. tomorrow at Jack Coombs Field. The Blue Devils and Eagles will then wrap up their series at The Winthrop Ballpark in Rock Hill, S.C., on Sunday afternoon at 2 p.m.

-d-u-k-e-