Five-Run Fifth Sparks Winthrop?s 13-8 Win Over Duke

Saturday, March 11

Durham, N.C.

1:00 PM

Duke University

Winthrop

Five-Run Fifth Sparks Winthrop?s 13-8 Win Over Duke

3/11/2006 12:00:00 AM | Baseball

By: Duke Sports Information

DURHAM, N.C. ? Designated hitter Jake Shaffer capped a five-run fifth inning with an RBI-single for the Winthrop Eagles as they defeated the Duke Blue Devils, 13-8, on Saturday afternoon at Jack Coombs Field. The Blue Devils fall to 7-12 on the season while the Eagles improve to 14-4.

Leading 2-0 entering the top of the fifth, second baseman Chris Carrara singled to third to start the inning. After Carrara stole second base, first baseman Heath Rollins laced an RBI-triple down the right field line, scoring Carrara. Left fielder Jacob Dempsey followed with an RBI-double to right field to score Rollins. After consecutive walks to shortstop Matt Repec and to center fielder Tommy Lentz loaded the bases, third baseman Mitch Saum roped a two-run double to right, scoring Dempsey and Repec. Shaffer then capped the inning with an RBI-single to shortstop to give the Eagles a 7-0 lead.

Duke scored three runs in the bottom half of the fifth to cut Winthrop's lead to 7-3. After consecutive walks to third baseman Adam Murray and to first baseman Jonathan Nicolla, right fielder Tim Sherlock singled through the right side to load the bases. Murray would then score Duke's first run of the game on a passed ball. Left fielder Daniel Palmer followed with an RBI-single to short, scoring Nicolla. With runners on the corners, pitcher Jonathan Anderson hit into a 6-3 double play, allowing Sherlock to score from third.

The Eagles put up two runs in the top of the sixth to take a 9-3 lead. After Rollins singled to shortstop and stole second, Dempsey grounded out to second to advance Rollins to third. Repec then laced an RBI-single to right center to score Rollins. Lentz capped the inning with an RBI-double down the left field line, scoring Repec from first.

The Blue Devils answered with a pair of runs in the bottom of the sixth to make it a four-run ballgame. Shortstop Brett Bartles hit a one-out single before advancing to third on a double by center fielder Jimmy Gallagher. Murray then lined a two-run single up the middle to score Bartles and Gallagher.

Winthrop would score two runs in each of the next two innings to take a 13-5 lead. In the top of the seventh, Carrara hit a two-run double down the right field line to score Shaffer and right fielder Tyler McBride. In the eighth inning, Saum scored on a wild pitch before Carrara laced an RBI-single to third to score catcher Alan Robbins.

Duke scored twice in the bottom of the eighth to cut Winthrop's lead to 13-7. Bartles led off the inning with a single up the middle which was followed by a single to center field by Gallagher. With runners on first and second, Murray doubled down the left field line to score Bartles. Nicolla then grounded out to short, allowing Gallagher to score from third.

The Blue Devils added a run in the ninth on an RBI-ground-rule double by Bartles but it was not enough as the Eagles held on for the 13-8 win.

Winthrop reliever Ben Hildreth (2-1) earned his second victory of the season, holding the Blue Devils to two runs on four hits in 3.0 innings of work. Duke starter Jonathan Anderson (0-1) suffered his first loss of the year, allowing seven runs on eight hits in 4.2 innings pitched.

Murray led the Blue Devils at the plate, going 2-for-3 with three RBI and a run scored. Bartles went 4-for-5 with an RBI and two runs scored while Gallagher and Anderson both collected a pair of hits. Anderson, Palmer and Nicolla each had one RBI for Duke.

Carrara led the Eagles on the day, going 4-for-6 with three RBI and two runs scored. Saum went 3-for-6 with three RBI and a run scored while Dempsey was 2-for-4 with two RBI and a run scored. Rollins, Repec, Lentz and Shaffer all had one RBI in the win for Winthrop.

The Blue Devils and the Eagles will wrap up their three-game series tomorrow afternoon at The Winthrop Ballpark in Rock Hill, S.C. The first pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m.

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