D?Alessio?s Two Homers Lead No. 7 Clemson To 8-2 Win Over Duke

Tuesday, May 9

Durham, N.C.

1:00 PM

Duke University

Clemson

Blue Devils Enjoy Success In Collegiate Baseball Summer Leagues

D?Alessio?s Two Homers Lead No. 7 Clemson To 8-2 Win Over Duke

5/9/2006 12:00:00 AM | Baseball

By: Duke Sports Information

DURHAM, N.C. ? First baseman Andy D'Alessio hit a pair of home runs for the second straight day and left fielder Tyler Colvin added a solo homer in the first inning to spark No. 7 Clemson's 8-2 win over Duke on Tuesday afternoon at Jack Coombs Field. The Blue Devils fall to 14-36 overall and 6-21 in the ACC while the Tigers improve to 36-13 overall and 18-6 in league play.

Clemson scored a pair of runs in the opening frame to take a 2-0 lead. After center fielder Brad Chalk lined a one-out single up the middle, he advanced to second on a passed ball before moving to third on a failed pickoff attempt. Right fielder Travis Storrer then lifted a fly ball into foul territory along the left field line to score Chalk with a sacrifice fly. Colvin followed by driving the first pitch he saw over the wall in center for his ninth long ball of the season.

Duke answered with a run in the bottom of the first to make it a 2-1 ballgame. Pitcher Jimmy Gallagher roped a leadoff double to left center before advancing to third on a groundout by center fielder Jonathan Anderson. Gallagher would then score on the next play when shortstop Brett Bartles grounded out to short.

The Tigers scored three times in the top of the second to take a 5-1 lead. Third baseman Marquez Smith led off the inning with a single down the third base line. D'Alessio then turned on the first pitch he saw and sent it sailing over the right field wall for a two-run homer. Designated hitter Herman Demmink later capped the three-run frame with an RBI-triple down the right field line.

The Blue Devils would score another run in the bottom of the second to cut the deficit to 5-2. Right fielder Jonathan Nicolla doubled to right center to start the inning before scoring on an RBI-double by first baseman Nate Freiman.

In the top of the third, D'Alessio launched his second home run of the game and fourth of the series over the right field wall to extend Clemson's lead to 6-2.

Second baseman Taylor Harbin added a two-run single in the top of the seventh to cap the scoring at 8-2.

Clemson starter Jason Berken improved to 7-3 on the season, holding the Blue Devils to two runs on four hits in 4.0 innings of work.

Gallagher fell to 1-5 on the year after allowing six runs on eight hits in 6.0 innings.

D'Alessio went 2-for-4 with three RBI while Harbin was 2-for-4 with two RBI for the Tigers in the win.

Freiman led the Blue Devils at the plate, going 2-for-4 with an RBI-double.

Duke will return to the diamond with a three-game series against No. 9 Georgia Tech (36-12, 14-10 ACC) this weekend. Friday and Saturday's games are set for 7 p.m. while Sunday's game is scheduled for 1 p.m. at Russ Chandler Stadium.

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