Baseball Downs Columbia 5-2, Picks Up 15th Win

Tuesday, March 17

Durham, N.C. (Durham Bulls Athletic Park)

6:00 PM

Duke University

Columbia

Baseball Downs Columbia 5-2, Picks Up 15th Win

3/17/2015 10:47:00 PM | Baseball

By: Duke Sports Information

DURHAM, N.C. – Duke scored three runs over the first two innings and added a pair of insurance runs late to defeat Columbia, 5-2, in non-conference action Tuesday evening at the Durham Bulls Athletic Park.

Three Blue Devils – senior Andy Perez, freshman Max Miller and freshman Jack Labosky – registered multiple hits in the contest to pace a Duke (15-5, 2-4 ACC) offense that totaled 10 hits for the game. Perez belted a leadoff home run in the first, contributing two RBI and a run scored. Labosky drove in two RBI, marking the second time this season the rookie has knocked in multiple RBI.

After Columbia (3-8, 0-0 Ivy) scored a run in both the first and second innings, the Duke pitching staff held the Lions scoreless the rest of the way. Junior Nick Hendrix started the first game of his career and allowed two runs on four hits over three innings. Freshman Chris McGrath (2-0) earned the win after tossing three scoreless innings in relief. McGrath struck out a career-high five batters and yielded a pair of hits in the outing.

Senior Sarkis Ohanian and freshman Mitch Stallings combined to pitch the final three innings. The duo allowed one baserunner and struck out four to keep Columbia off the board. Stallings registered the final four outs to pick up his first career save.

Columbia wasted little time putting the game's first run up. The Lions' Shane Adams and Jordan Serena both singled in the first before Joe Falcone recorded the RBI groundout to put Columbia up 1-0.

The Lions' lead did not survive the first as Duke plated a pair in the bottom half. Perez sent the first pitch he saw from Columbia starter Mike Weisman (0-1) over the right field wall to immediately tie the score. Miller and sophomore Cris Perez both singled in the frame while freshman Justin Bellinger notched an RBI fielder's choice to put Duke up, 2-1.

The early scoring continued in the second inning. Columbia's John Kinne rifled a double to lead off the frame and scored on Lane Robinette's RBI single, knotting the score at two-all.

Once again, Duke answered and regained the upperhand with a run of its own in the second. Labosky drove in the first of his two RBI to plate freshman Evan Dougherty, giving the Blue Devils a lead they would not relinquish the rest of the way.

After combing for nine hits and five runs over the first two innings, neither team was able to plate a run over the middle frames. Duke padded its lead with a lone run in the sixth as A. Perez laced a two-out RBI single to score Zyla.

The Blue Devils added a final insurance run in the eighth. Zyla drew a one-out walk and ultimately scored on a Labosky RBI double that ricocheted off the wall in right center.

Duke and Columbia are set for a second midweek meeting Wednesday, Mar. 18. The Blue Devils and the Lions square off at 6 p.m., at the Durham Bulls Athletic Park.

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