Solid Pitching, Smiciklas Single Help Duke Win Finale

Sunday, May 1

Raleigh, N.C.

1:00 PM

Duke University

NC State

Smiciklas, Labosky Homer in Duke?s Win over FSU

Solid Pitching, Smiciklas Single Help Duke Win Finale

5/1/2016 6:35:00 PM | Baseball

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By: Duke Sports Information

RALEIGH, N.C. – Duke took its first lead in the top of the ninth on a Michael Smiciklas RBI single and sophomore Mitch Stallings pitched a clean bottom half as the Blue Devils edged No. 10 NC State, 2-1, in the series finale Sunday afternoon at Doak Field at Dail Park.

In the top of the final frame, Smiciklas laced a 2-0 changeup to right field, scoring classmate Jack Labosky for what proved to be the game-winning run. Stallings (2-2) then finished off the Duke (25-20, 10-14 ACC) win with a pair of fly outs and a strikeout.

“[Smiciklas] deserved it because he'd had a great weekend,” said head coach Chris Pollard. “He'd hit balls hard all weekend. [NC State] had taken at least four hits away from him, so it was very fitting that he was the guy that came through.”

Stallings covered the final 2.2 innings to back up another solid performance from graduate student Brian McAfee. McAfee turned in his seventh quality start of 2016 in the no decision. The right-hander allowed just one first-inning run and shut down NC State (31-12, 12-7 ACC) the rest of his outing. McAfee scattered seven hits, struck out five and walked one. He exited the game with one out in the seventh in a one-all tie.

“It was a really good college baseball game today,” said Pollard. “It's as big as it gets. I preach and preach and preach to our guys to treat every day the same and that no one game is any bigger than the next. I went off the script last night; I told out guys to treat [today] like it was a one-game season and to put everything on the line. They did that and they were tough enough to stay in the moment and compete until the very end. I'm extremely proud of our program.”

With the win, Pollard registered the 500th victory of his coaching career. He was already the fastest Blue Devil head coach to reach 100 wins with the Duke program and the only one to lead the team to two 30-win seasons over his first three campaigns.

A pair of NC State first-inning singles accounted for the game's opening run. Stephen Pitarra led off with a base knock, then advanced to second on a wild pitch before moving to third on a groundout. With two away, Joe Dunand lined an RBI single that fell just in front of Duke center fielder Jimmy Herron.

NCSU left-hander Ryan Williamson allowed just one baserunner over the first three innings before Duke was able to knot the score in the fourth. Herron coaxed a leadoff walk and Proctor legged out a bunt base hit. That set the table for Jack Laboksy, who recorded his team-leading 38th RBI with a single to right center.

NC State received 5.1 innings from Williamson before bringing in four relief pitchers. Williamson yielded one run on three singles, striking out six prior to turning the game over to the bullpen. Following Labosky's fourth-inning single, the Blue Devils did not have another hit until the ninth thanks in large part to solid defensive play by the Wolfpack.

“[NC State] probably took five hits away from us today,” Pollard said. “[Evan] Mendoza played great at third base. [Stephen] Pitarra took three hits away from us at least at second base. That can be deflating.”

Tied 1-1, Proctor greeted the ninth with an opposite field single, the Duke catcher's second hit of the ballgame. Following a Labosky fielder's choice, Justin Bellinger walked to put two men aboard. A Zack Kone grounder advanced the runners and Smiciklas came up with the key single to knock in his 16th RBI of the season.

NC State's Tommy DeJuneas (2-1) took the loss after allowing the run in the ninth. He pitched 1.2 innings, permitting two hits and a walk.

With the start of exam week Monday, Duke next returns to action Sunday, May 8, taking on Gardner-Webb in a 1 p.m., doubleheader at Jack Coombs Field.

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