Dempsey?s Two-Run Homer Leads Winthrop Past Duke

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Sunday, March 12

Rock Hill, S.C.

2:00 PM

Duke University

Winthrop

Tonight?s Duke-Davidson Baseball Game Postponed Due To Rain

Dempsey?s Two-Run Homer Leads Winthrop Past Duke

3/12/2006 12:00:00 AM | Baseball

By: Duke Sports Information

ROCK HILL, S.C. ? Left fielder Jacob Dempsey launched a two-run homer down the right field line to give Winthrop a 3-1 lead in the bottom of the third inning as the Eagles went on to defeat the Duke Blue Devils, 6-1, on Sunday afternoon at The Winthrop Ballpark. The Blue Devils fall to 7-13 on the season while the Eagles improve to 15-4 with a series sweep of Duke.

With the score knotted at 1-1 entering the bottom of the third, second baseman Chris Carrara drew a walk to begin the inning. Carrara would then steal second before advancing to third on a balk. Right fielder Heath Rollins drew a walk to give the Eagles runners on the corners but was picked off at first by Duke starter Jimmy Gallagher. Dempsey then blasted his two-run shot down the right field line to give Winthrop a two-run advantage.

Duke grabbed a 1-0 lead in the opening frame on a two-out solo home run by shortstop Brett Bartles. The solo shot was Bartles' team-leading fourth long ball of the season.

Winthrop answered with a run of their own in the bottom half of the first to tie the game at 1-1. Rollins singled through the right side to start the inning and then advanced to second when Dempsey drew a walk. Rollins would then steal third to give Winthrop runners on the corners. Center fielder Tommy Lentz followed with an RBI-single to right center to score Rollins.

The Eagles took a 5-1 lead in the bottom of the fifth. Designated hitter Nick Bly singled off third baseman Adam Murray's glove to start the inning. Rollins then hit a one-out single to give Winthrop runners on first and second. Bly and Rollins would both move up a base on a groundout to short by Dempsey before shortstop Matt Repec lined a two-run single up the middle to put Winthrop up by four.

Repec would add an RBI-single in the seventh to cap the scoring.

Winthrop starter Josh McDonald (2-0) earned his second victory of the season, holding the Blue Devils to one run on five hits in 7.1 innings of work. Gallagher (1-3) suffered his third loss of the year, allowing three runs on three hits in 4.0 innings pitched.

The Blue Devils will return to the diamond on Wednesday afternoon when they play host to Quinnipiac at 3 p.m. at Jack Coombs Field. Duke will then host ACC foe Miami for a three-game series Friday through Sunday.

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