Palmer Tallies Game-Winning Single In 11th

Wednesday, March 15

Durham, N.C.

3:00 PM

Duke University

Quinnipac

Palmer Tallies Game-Winning Single In 11th

3/15/2006 12:00:00 AM | Baseball

By: Duke Sports Information

DURHAM, N.C. ? Left fielder Daniel Palmer drove in the game-winning run with his 11th-inning single to lead the Duke Blue Devils to a 4-3 victory over the Quinnipiac Bobcats on Wednesday afternoon at Jack Coombs Field. The Blue Devils improve to 8-13 on the season while the Bobcats fall to 0-6.

Trailing 3-2 entering the bottom of the 11th, third baseman Adam Murray singled to left center to start the inning before advancing to second on a balk. First baseman Jonathan Nicolla then laced an RBI-single down the right field line, scoring Murray to tie the game at 3-3. Nicolla would then steal second and advance to third on a throwing error by Quinnipiac's catcher Kevin MacIlvane. After designated hitter Tim Sherlock struck out swinging, Palmer lined a 2-1 pitch over Tim Binkoski's head in center field for the game-winning RBI.

The Blue Devils scored a run in the bottom of the eighth to send the game into extra innings. Second baseman Javier Socorro singled through the left side to begin the inning. After catcher Matt Williams was hit by a pitch, shortstop Brett Bartles moved both runners up a base with a sacrifice bunt. Right fielder Jimmy Gallagher followed with a sacrifice fly to center, scoring Socorro to tie the game at 2-2.

The Bobcats took a 3-2 lead in the top of the 11th on an RBI-single by pinch hitter Michael Marmo before the Blue Devils posted two runs in the bottom half of the frame to keep Quinnipiac winless on the season.

Duke grabbed a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning. Gallagher led off the frame with a single to left which was followed by Murray's single through the right side. Nicolla then grounded out to third, advancing Gallagher to third and Murray to second. After Sherlock drew a walk to load the bases, Palmer beat out the throw on an attempted 4-6-3 double play, allowing Gallagher to score the game's first run.

Quinnipiac took a 2-1 lead in the top of the fourth. After MacIlvane grounded out to the pitcher, second baseman Randy Gress singled to right center. Shortstop Wilson Matos then drew a walk before first baseman Ricky Coppola roped a two-run double into the left field corner.

Duke reliever Jonathan Anderson (1-1) was the beneficiary of Palmer's game-winning single, earning his first win of the season after holding the Bobcats to one run on two hits in 2.0 innings of work. Quinnipiac reliever Eric Bretscher (0-1) suffered his first loss of the year, allowing two runs on three hits in 3.0 innings pitched.

Palmer led the Blue Devils at the plate, going 1-for-4 with two RBI. Gallagher, who had an RBI and a run scored, and Murray, who scored a run, both collected a pair of hits on the day. Nicolla added an RBI and a run scored in the win.

Right-handers Jimmy Saris, Tony Bajoczky and Danny Otero combined for 5.0 scoreless innings in relief of Duke starter Andrew Wolcott, who gave up two runs on four hits in 4.0 innings pitched.

Coppola led the Bobcats at the plate, going 1-for-5 with two RBI and a run scored.

The Blue Devils will return to the diamond when they host ACC foe Miami for a three-game series Friday through Sunday. Friday night's game will be the first game of the year under the lights at Jack Coombs Field with the first pitch scheduled for 7 p.m. Saturday night's game is also slated for 7 p.m. while Sunday's first pitch is set for 1 p.m.

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