Blue Devils Explode For 16-4 Win Over Bonnies

Sunday, February 18

Durham N.C.

12:00 PM

Duke University

St. Bonaventure

Four Blue Devils Named To All-ACC Academic Baseball Team

Blue Devils Explode For 16-4 Win Over Bonnies

2/18/2007 12:00:00 AM | Baseball

By: Duke Sports Information

DURHAM, N.C. ? The Duke Blue Devils scored a season-high 16 runs off a season-high 22 hits to defeat St. Bonaventure, 16-4, on Sunday afternoon at Jack Coombs Field. With the win and the series sweep, the Blue Devils improve to 6-0 while the Bonnies fall to 0-3.

Duke, off to its best start since 1998, recorded their second consecutive series sweep. The last time the Blue Devils had a pair of series sweeps was during the 2004 season.

The Blue Devils jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first. Right fielder Jimmy Gallagher lined a two-out triple to right center before scoring on first baseman Nate Freiman's RBI-double down the right field line. Third baseman Brett Bartles then laced an RBI-single to left to score Freiman.

Duke added a pair of runs in the bottom of the third to take a 4-0 lead. After second baseman Ryan McCurdy singled to center, center fielder Jonathan Anderson singled through the right side. Gallagher followed with a two-run double to left center, scoring McCurdy and Anderson.

St. Bonaventure scored three runs in the top of the fifth to make it a one-run ballgame at 4-3. Center fielder Randy Moley drew a bases-loaded walk to bring in the first run of the inning. Shortstop Josh Perkins then lined an RBI-single to center before a sacrifice fly by first baseman Brian Pellegrini made the score 4-3. With runners on first and second, left fielder Joe Rizzo hit a line drive to right where Gallagher came up with a spectacular diving grab to end the inning.

A three-run sixth inning extended Duke's lead to 7-3. After catcher Matt Williams reached on an infield single, designated hitter Jonathan Nicolla sent a double down the left field line to give the Blue Devils runners on second and third. Left fielder Alexander Hassan then lifted a sacrifice fly to right, scoring Williams and moving Nicolla to third. Shortstop Gabriel Saade followed with a standup triple over Moley's head in center to score Nicolla. McCurdy capped the inning with an RBI-double down the left field line.

After the first two Bonnies reached base in the top of the seventh, Bartles started an impressive 5-4-3 double play. Perkins lined a hard-hit grounder between shortstop and third where Bartles made a diving stop, jumped to his feet and threw to McCurdy, who finished off the double play. St. Bonaventure would then score on a Duke error to make it a 7-4 ballgame.

The Blue Devils responded with a seven-run seventh inning to extend their lead to 14-4. Following a walk to Gallagher to start the inning, Freiman crushed an 0-1 offering over the wall in right center for a two-run homer. The home run was the first for Duke this season and the sixth of Freiman's career. After the first out of the inning, Williams, Nicolla and Hassan hit three straight singles to load the bases. Saade then lined an RBI-single to right to score Williams. Two batters later, Anderson laced a two-run single to left, scoring Nicolla and Hassan. Gallagher then capped off the inning with a two-run single to left to give the Blue Devils a 10-run advantage.

Freshman Will Currier came on to pinch hit to lead off the bottom of the eighth and doubled to left field on the first pitch he saw. Two batters later, pinch hitter Tim Sherlock singled through the left side to give the Blue Devils runners on the corners. Pinch hitter Michael Ghizzoni then lined an RBI-double to right center to score Currier. Sherlock scored the final run of the game on a groundout by Saade, giving Duke a 16-4 lead.

Gallagher paced the Blue Devils at the plate, going 3-for-3 with a triple, a double, four RBI and two runs scored. Freiman was 3-for-5 on the day with a home run, a double, three RBI and two runs scored. Anderson went 3-for-5 with two RBI and two runs scored, Saade was 2-for-5 with a triple, three RBI and two runs scored and McCurdy finished 2-for-5 with a double, an RBI and a run scored. Nicolla and Williams both went 2-for-4 with two runs scored, while Bartles, Hassan and Ghizzoni all drove in a run.

Freshman Jonathan Foreman (1-0) picked up his first career win, holding the Bonnies to one run on one hit in 2.2 innings of relief. Freshman Jeremy Gould was solid through the first four innings, allowing only one hit before running into trouble in the top of the fifth. Anderson and freshman Christopher Manno came on in relief of Foreman and both lefties held St. Bonaventure to one hit apiece in the eighth and ninth innings.

The Blue Devils will return to the diamond on Tuesday when they host Albany at 3 p.m. at Jack Coombs Field. Duke then travels to Greenville, N.C., next weekend to play in the East Carolina Invitational. Duke will face Washington on Friday at 1 p.m., St. John's on Saturday at 11 a.m. and East Carolina on Sunday at 2 p.m.

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