Duke Sweeps Doubleheader Over NCCU

Sunday, May 3

Durham, N.C. (Jack Coombs Field)

1:00 PM

Duke University

N.C. Central

Baseball Travels to Pitt for First ACC Road Series

Duke Sweeps Doubleheader Over NCCU

5/3/2015 8:46:00 PM | Baseball

By: Duke Sports Information

DURHAM, N.C. – Coming off exam week, Duke swept a doubleheader over N.C. Central Sunday afternoon at Jack Coombs Field. The Blue Devils secured a 6-1 victory in the first game before downing the Eagles 10-3 in the second contest.

Over the course of the two games, junior Kenny Koplove totaled five hits while freshman Peter Zyla had four to lead the Blue Devils.

“I was really pleased with the offensive approach of some guys,” said head coach Chris Pollard. “Kenny Koplove swung the bat really great all day. Pete Zyla had really good at bats. Rosenfeld, his at bats got better as the game went on. Andy Perez's at bats got better as the game went on. A lot of guys really had good adjustments and built momentum going into this coming week. “

Duke improved to 26-19 overall, while N.C. Central slipped to 19-27.

Game 1
Koplove, Zyla and Jalen Phillips contributed two hits each to lead Duke past N.C. Central, 6-1, in Sunday's opening contest. The Blue Devils totaled 10 hits to NCCU's five.

Senior Andrew Istler (5-3) picked up his second-straight win to lead a strong Duke outing on the mound. The Eagles struck for a lone run in the first, but Istler allowed just one baserunner the rest of the outing. The senior RHP pitched five complete frames, yielding one run on three hits while striking out seven batters.

Redshirt senior Dillon Haviland, senior Sarkis Ohanian and freshman Mitch Stallings combined to shut out the Eagles the rest of the way.

The day began with an NCCU run in the top of the first. Third baseman Eric Kimber walked and scored on a Ronald Thompson RBI single before Istler induced a 6-3 double play to end the threat.

Duke responded immediately with three runs in the bottom half. Senior Andy Perez walked and freshman Max Miller singled to start things off. Zyla roped an RBI double to start the scoring. A Cris Perez sacrifice fly and Jalen Phillips RBI triple gave Duke a lead it would not relinquish the rest of the day.

The Blue Devils added a fourth run in the seventh on an Evan Dougherty sacrifice fly, then tacked on two more runs in the eighth. Mike Rosenfeld and C. Perez both singled and scored in the eighth as Phillips and Koplove drove in a run each.

Game 2
Duke amassed 15 hits in a decisive 10-3 win in Sunday's nightcap. Five Blue Devils registered multiple hits, led by Miller and Koplove with three each.

The Blue Devils jumped out 2-0 in the first and ultimately scored the first 10 runs of the contest. Zyla laced a two-run double to ignite the offense, plating A. Perez and Miller who both walked.

Zyla finished the second contest with a career-best four RBI. In addition, A. Perez reached base in four of his five plate appearances, scoring all four times.

Koplove added the first of three singles in the second, scoring on a Dougherty sacrifice fly. A. Perez doubled and scored in both the fifth and sixth innings as Duke's lead grew to a comfortable, 7-0 margin. The Blue Devils tacked on three more runs in the eighth. Zyla, Rosenfeld and Phillips each added an RBI.

N.C. Central scored all three of its runs in the top of the ninth. The Eagles totaled four of their eight hits in the final frame before Duke could close out the contest.

Sophomore Bailey Clark (3-4) picked up his third win after tossing six shutout innings. The Eagles could only muster two hits against the right-hander, who struck out four and walked one.

“I'm really proud of Bailey,” Pollard said. “Bailey and I had a really good but tough conversation yesterday. He really answered the call to the conversation. I told him how proud I was of how he competed and showed his toughness today.”

NCCU starter Cameron Scalzo (2-2) was tagged with the loss. Scalzo pitched two innings, allowing three runs on three hits and three walks.

Duke returns to action Tuesday, May 5, traveling to Davidson for a 6 p.m., first pitch against the Wildcats.

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