Six-Run First Leads Duke To 9-4 Win Over Virginia Tech

Friday, May 11

Durham, N.C.

7:00 PM

Duke University

Virginia Tech

Duke Falls To North Carolina A&T In 11 Innings

Six-Run First Leads Duke To 9-4 Win Over Virginia Tech

5/11/2007 12:00:00 AM | Baseball

By: Duke Sports Information

DURHAM, N.C. ? Leftfielder Alexander Hassan's three-run double highlighted a six-run first inning for Duke as the Blue Devils defeated Virginia Tech, 9-4, on Friday night at Jack Coombs Field. With the win, the Blue Devils improve to 28-20 overall and 7-18 in the ACC while the Hokies fall to 21-27 and 5-20, respectively.

Centerfielder Jimmy Gallagher drew a leadoff walk to begin the first. After Gallagher advanced to second on a balk, rightfielder Jonathan Anderson moved him to third with a sacrifice bunt. First baseman Nate Freiman followed with an RBI-single up the middle to score Gallagher. After a pair of failed pickoff attempts and walks to third baseman Brett Bartles and catcher Matt Williams loaded the bases, Hassan laced a three-run double to left center to push Duke's lead to 4-0. Hassan would advance to third on the throw to the plate on his double and then score on a passed ball. Shortstop Gabriel Saade followed with a double to center and second baseman Kyle Butler drove him in with an RBI-single to right.

Virginia Tech scored in the top of the third to make it a 6-1 ballgame. Third baseman Bryan Thomas reached on a Duke error before advancing to third on a single up the middle by shortstop Warren Schaeffer. Catcher Anthony Sosnoskie then sent an RBI-single to right to score Thomas.

The Hokies added three runs in the top of the fourth to cut Duke's lead to 6-4. Rightfielder Steve Bumbry had a leadoff single up the middle to start the frame. Two batters later, second baseman Matt Packer singled through the left side, moving Bumbry to second. After first baseman Sean O'Brien flew out to center, centerfielder Nate Parks turned on an 0-2 offering and sent a three-run homer to right.

The Blue Devils tacked on a pair of runs in the bottom of the seventh to take an 8-4 lead. Williams singled through the left side to begin the inning before moving to second on a groundout by Hassan. Designated hitter Jonathan Nicolla then hammered a 1-1 curveball to deep left for a two-run jack. It was the second home run of the season for Nicolla and the eighth of his career.

Gallagher drew his third walk of the game to begin the bottom of the eighth before moving to second on a balk. He then stole third and when the throw from Sosnoskie sailed into left field, Gallagher scored to extend Duke's lead to 9-4.

Senior Tony Bajoczky improved to 9-2 on the season, holding the Hokies to three earned runs on 10 hits in six innings of work with three strikeouts. His ninth win moves him into a tie for fifth on Duke's single-season wins list. Freshman Michael Ness pitched a scoreless seventh with one strikeout and freshman Michael Seander worked the eighth and ninth, holding the Hokies to one hit in two scoreless frames with three strikeouts.

Nicolla led the Blue Devils at the plate, going 2-for-4 with a two-run homer. Anderson went 2-for-3, Hassan was 1-for-4 with a three-run double and a run scored and Butler finished 1-for-3 with an RBI. Williams went 1-for-3 with two runs scored, Freiman finished 1-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored and Saade was 1-for-4 with a double and a run scored. Bartles went 1-for-4 with a run scored and Gallagher added a pair of runs in the win.

Virginia Tech starter Greg Fryman fell to 2-9 after allowing seven runs on nine hits in six innings pitched.

Game two of the series will be tomorrow at 2 p.m. Duke and Virginia Tech will wrap up the series on Sunday at 1 p.m.

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