Back-To-Back Homers Highlight Nine-Run Sixth Inning In Duke?s 17-12 Win Over Davidson

Tuesday, April 3

Davidson, N.C.

7:00 PM

Duke University

Davidson

Back-To-Back Homers Highlight Nine-Run Sixth Inning In Duke?s 17-12 Win Over Davidson

4/3/2007 12:00:00 AM | Baseball

By: Duke Sports Information

DAVIDSON, N.C. – Shortstop Gabriel Saade broke a 7-7 tie in the top of the sixth with a two-run single to left and third baseman Brett Bartles and first baseman Nate Freiman hit back-to-back home runs to deep center to highlight a nine-run inning as the Duke Blue Devils defeated the Davidson Wildcats, 17-12, on Tuesday night at Wilson Field. With the win, the Blue Devils improve to 21-11 while the Wildcats fall to 15-16.

After Bartles reached on a Davidson error, Freiman singled through the right side to begin the sixth. Bartles was then forced out at third on a fielder's choice before catcher Matt Williams drew a walk to load the bases. Saade then laced a two-run single to left to score Freiman and designated hitter Jeremy Gould. Leftfielder Tim Sherlock followed with a fly out to right, moving Williams to third and Saade to second. Second baseman Ryan McCurdy then sent a two-run single up the middle, scoring Williams and Saade before moving to second on the throw to the plate. Centerfielder Jimmy Gallagher followed with an RBI-double to right to score McCurdy before rightfielder Alexander Hassan singled up the middle to score Gallagher. After Hassan stole second, Bartles blasted a 2-2 offering to straightaway center for a two-run homer. It was the fifth home run of the season for Bartles and the 12th of his career. Freiman followed with his own home run to deep center, crushing a 1-1 pitch for his third long ball of the year and eighth of his career, giving the Blue Devils a 16-7 lead.

Duke took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first. After back-to-back one-out walks to Hassan and Bartles, Freiman flew out to right, moving Hassan to third. Gould followed with an RBI-single through the left side to score Hassan.

Saade blasted a leadoff home run to deep left to start the top of the second, turning on a 2-1 offering for his fifth homer of the season.

The Blue Devils added three runs in the top of the fourth to take a 5-0 lead. Following a two-out single to left by McCurdy, Gallagher drove a 1-1 pitch over the centerfield wall for a two-run jack. It was the second home run of the year for Gallagher and the 10th of his career. Hassan then doubled into the left field corner and stole third before Bartles drew a walk. Freiman capped the frame with an RBI-single to left to score Hassan.

The Wildcats answered with seven runs in the bottom of the fourth to take a 7-5 lead. With designated hitter Rob Wilson on second and third baseman Chris FitzPatrick on first, centerfielder Chase FitzPatrick lined a two-run double into the gap in right center. After second baseman Zach Kayne reached on an infield single, shortstop Matt Webb reached on a Duke error that scored FitzPatrick. Rightfielder Blake Osborn then singled down the right field line to score Kayne and move Webb to third. Crissey followed with a two-run double to center and leftfielder Gregory Zage capped the inning with an RBI-double to right.

Duke tied the game at 7-7 with a two-run fifth inning. After Williams reached on an infield single, Saade moved him to second with a sacrifice bunt. Sherlock was then hit by a pitch and both runners advanced a base on a groundout to short by McCurdy. Gallagher then sent a two-out two-run double into the left field corner, scoring Williams and Sherlock to tie the game.

Crissey added a leadoff home run in the bottom of the seventh to make it a 16-8 ballgame.

After Gallagher lined a leadoff double to left in the top of the eighth, Hassan moved him to third on a groundout to second. Two batters later, Freiman drove in Gallagher on a fielder's choice to put the Blue Devils up 17-8.

Webb added an RBI-single in the bottom of the eighth, catcher J.P. Craven had a two-run double and Chris FitzPatrick had an RBI-groundout in the ninth to cap the scoring at 17-12.

Gallagher led the Blue Devils at the plate, going 4-for-6 with a home run, three doubles and five RBI. Freiman finished 3-for-5 with a home run and three RBI, McCurdy was 3-for-6 with a pair of RBI, Saade went 2-for-5 with a homer and three RBI, Bartles was 1-for-3 with a home run and Hassan finished with two hits and an RBI.

Freshman Will Currier improved to 3-0 on the season, holding the Wildcats to two runs on four hits in 2.2 innings of relief.

The Blue Devils will head to Charlottesville, Va., this weekend to take on the third-ranked Cavaliers. Duke and Davidson will meet again next Wednesday at Jack Coombs Field before the Blue Devils take on No. 2 North Carolina next weekend in Chapel Hill.

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