14th-Ranked Cavaliers Hold Off Blue Devils, 7-6

Saturday, March 12

Durham Bulls Athletic Park

1:00 PM

Duke University

Virginia

Duke Outlasts Georgia Tech in 10-Inning Slugfest

14th-Ranked Cavaliers Hold Off Blue Devils, 7-6

3/12/2016 5:26:00 PM | Baseball

BASE vs. VIRGINIA: Labosky HR in the Bottom of the 9th BASE vs. VIRGINIA: Pollard Interview Full Game replay: UVA 7, Duke 6 (Game 2)Condensed Game: UVA 7, Duke 6 (Game 2)BASE vs. VIRGINIA: Ryan Day Bases-Loaded Line Drive BASE vs. VIRGINIA: Swart Interview Box Score (HTML)Box Score (PDF)

By: Duke Sports Information

DURHAM, N.C. – Blue Devil first baseman Jack Labosky hit his first career home run in the bottom of the ninth, but 14th-ranked Virginia was able to hold off Duke in the end, capturing a 7-6 victory Saturday afternoon at the Durham Bulls Athletic Park.

Labosky's homer – a two-run shot off the bull in left field – cut the deficit to one run. UVA closer Alec Bellinger settled down and recorded the final two outs to clinch the victory and register his fourth save of the season.

“I thought we were competing good,” said head coach Chris Pollard. “We strung together good at bats. It was good to see Jack [Labosky] turn on a pitch like that.”

Duke (8-7, 0-2 ACC) twice took an early lead over Virginia (11-4, 2-0 ACC), but the Cavaliers had an answer each time. UVA gained its first lead in the top of the seventh and withstood Duke's ninth-inning rally.

Both teams reached double-digit hits as Virginia totaled 12 and Duke 10. Sophomore Max Miller went 2-for-4 with a walk and a run scored while classmate Evan Dougherty turned in a 2-for-3 performance with a double, a walk and a run scored.

Virginia catcher Matt Thaiss paced the Cavaliers, going three-for-five with two RBI and a run scored. The top of the UVA order did the bulk of the damage as the Cavaliers' first three hitters – Adam Haseley, Ernie Clement and Matt Thaiss – went a combined 7-for-15 at the plate with four runs and four RBI.

Duke started the scoring Saturday, taking a 1-0 lead after the second. Freshman Zack Kone doubled high off the Blue Monster and scored on a Virginia error two batters later.

Virginia countered with a run of its own to start the third. A leadoff walk to Ryan Karstetter proved costly and the UVA left fielder tied the game on a Haseley two-out RBI single.

Aided by five walks, Duke added three runs in the bottom of the fourth. UVA starter Daniel Lynch walked the bases loaded before Ryan Day laced a two-run single to center field. Two more walks then brought home the Blue Devils' third run of the frame.

The Cavaliers wastes little time tying the score a second time. With one out in the top of the fifth, five-straight UVA batters reached base. Clement sent an RBI single through the right side before Thaiss roped a two-run double off the right center wall.

The game remained knotted at four-all through the six before Virginia added three more runs in the seventh. Clement began the inning with a bunt single and Thaiss added his third hit of the day. A wild pitch scored Clement and Thaiss came home on Kevin Doherty sacrifice fly to right field. Karstetter added an RBI single with two outs to complete the scoring.

UVA relievers Tyler Shambora (1-0) and David Rosenberger pitched 4.1 scoreless innings to preserve the Cavalier advantage. Shambora earned the win, pitching 3.1 shutout innings while allowing two hits and two walks.

Graduate student Trent Swart gave up four runs on eight hits over 6.0 innings in the no decision. Sophomore Mitch Stallings (0-1) suffered the loss for Duke, yielding two runs on two hits in the seventh. Relievers Kevin Lewallyn, Luke Whitten and Kellen Urbon kept the game within striking distance, combing for 2.1 scoreless innings.

Duke and Virginia meet in the series finale Sunday, March 13 at the Durham Bulls Athletic Park. Sunday's game – originally scheduled for 1 p.m. – will now start at 12 p.m. Duke's Brian McAfee (1-1) takes the mound against UVA's Tommy Doyle (1-1). Pregame coverage begins on GoDuke.com at 11:45 a.m.

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