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On This Date: Duke Sweeps No. 16 Clemson
4/21/2020 2:35:00 PM | Baseball
DURHAM, N.C. – The Duke baseball team earned a pivotal series sweep over Clemson at Doug Kingsmore Stadium on April 21, 2019, as the team enjoyed a remarkable month of April en route to turning the season around.
The Blue Devils' sweep over the then-No. 16 Tigers marked Duke's first sweep at Clemson since 1948, while serving as the third of four consecutive series victories in ACC play to help Duke gain ground in the conference standings.
The series at Clemson provided three closely played matchups, with each game being decided by two runs or less, including a pair of one-run contests. The Blue Devils earned 9-8 victories on both Friday and Sunday, while claiming a 5-3 win in Saturday's matchup.
Game 1 Recap
Duke used an impressive comeback effort in Friday's series opener with Clemson to stun the Tigers by a 9-8 margin. The Blue Devils battled from behind for most of the evening, but continued to fight in a contest that featured three ties and six lead changes.
The Blue Devils entered the top of the ninth, trailing 8-7. Down to its final strike of the game in a 2-2 count, freshman Ethan Murray lined a two-out RBI single to plate the tying run in graduate student Kyle Gallagher, who had reached earlier on a one-out walk. After Clemson made a call to its bullpen, sophomore Michael Rothenberg greeted the new arm with a RBI double into the left center gap to score Murray and put Duke in front, 9-8.
The Blue Devils turned it over to sophomore closer Thomas Girard, who worked a clean inning in the bottom of the ninth, highlighted by one strikeout, to pick up his sixth save of the season and give Duke the advantage in the series.
Game 2 Recap
Duke carried momentum from Friday's series opener into game two of the series, as the Blue Devils used a solid pitching effort combined with timely hitting to secure a 5-3 victory over Clemson on Saturday. With the win, the Blue Devils claimed the series, marking the program's first series win at Clemson since 1993.
The Blue Devils battled from behind for the second consecutive day after falling to an early 1-0 deficit, but reeled off five runs—all of which came with two outs—across the fifth and sixth innings to grab the advantage. Sophomore Jack Carey earned the win for Duke, working 2.2 scoreless innings in relief, allowing only two hits while recording a pair of strikeouts.
Offensively, the Blue Devils were led by the duo of senior Kennie Taylor and sophomore Chris Crabtree, who contributed two hits apiece. Crabtree added a team-high tying two RBI, as fellow sophomore Michael Rothenberg joined him with two RBI of his own.
Game 3 Recap
The series finale between the Blue Devils and Tigers proved to be a thrilling nine innings of baseball, as the Duke looked to secure the series sweep. The Blue Devils scored first for the first time all weekend, jumping out to an 8-2 lead behind a pair of home runs from senior Kennie Taylor and sophomore Joey Loperfido.
Clemson exploded for six runs in the bottom of the fifth to even the contest at eight apiece. The Tigers used two home runs, highlighted by a grand slam by Justin Hawkins to battle back and knot the score at 8-8 with four innings to play.
Clemson threatened to score on multiple occasions, but Duke relied on stellar defense from left fielder Kyle Gallagher to keep things close. The With runners on second and third with one down in the seventh, Gallagher fielded a fly ball in shallow left field before firing a strike to home plate to nail the go-ahead runner in a tag attempt to end the inning.
In the top of the ninth, junior Matt Mervis broke the tie with a no-doubt solo shot to right, marking his fifth home run of the season to give the Blue Devils a 9-8 lead. The Tigers would did not go quietly, as Gallagher added to his defensive highlights with a game-saving catch. The Duke left fielder robbed the potential game-tying home run with a nice catch over the left field fence to begin the ninth.
For more information on Duke baseball, follow the Blue Devils on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram by searching for "DukeBaseball". You can also find all-access coverage of all Duke athletic programs on SnapChat by searching for "dukeathletics".
#GoDuke
The Blue Devils' sweep over the then-No. 16 Tigers marked Duke's first sweep at Clemson since 1948, while serving as the third of four consecutive series victories in ACC play to help Duke gain ground in the conference standings.
SWEEP SZN ?? ??
— Duke Baseball (@DukeBASE) April 21, 2019
First series sweep at Clemson for the Blue Devils since 1948 ??????????#BlueCollar | #GoDuke ?????? pic.twitter.com/mvbBHIJCm1
The series at Clemson provided three closely played matchups, with each game being decided by two runs or less, including a pair of one-run contests. The Blue Devils earned 9-8 victories on both Friday and Sunday, while claiming a 5-3 win in Saturday's matchup.
Game 1 Recap
Duke used an impressive comeback effort in Friday's series opener with Clemson to stun the Tigers by a 9-8 margin. The Blue Devils battled from behind for most of the evening, but continued to fight in a contest that featured three ties and six lead changes.
The Blue Devils entered the top of the ninth, trailing 8-7. Down to its final strike of the game in a 2-2 count, freshman Ethan Murray lined a two-out RBI single to plate the tying run in graduate student Kyle Gallagher, who had reached earlier on a one-out walk. After Clemson made a call to its bullpen, sophomore Michael Rothenberg greeted the new arm with a RBI double into the left center gap to score Murray and put Duke in front, 9-8.
TIE BALLGAME ??@1Emurray1 sends a RBI single to right to score one and we're tied in the ninth!
— Duke Baseball (@DukeBASE) April 20, 2019
?? https://t.co/TELPwSgQeN#BlueCollar | #GoDuke ?????? pic.twitter.com/TYu920Jg25
The Blue Devils turned it over to sophomore closer Thomas Girard, who worked a clean inning in the bottom of the ninth, highlighted by one strikeout, to pick up his sixth save of the season and give Duke the advantage in the series.
STATEMENT WIN ??
— Duke Baseball (@DukeBASE) April 20, 2019
Took the series opener at Clemson to set the tone ??#BlueCollar | #GoDuke ?????? pic.twitter.com/LJKdHLudQK
Game 2 Recap
Duke carried momentum from Friday's series opener into game two of the series, as the Blue Devils used a solid pitching effort combined with timely hitting to secure a 5-3 victory over Clemson on Saturday. With the win, the Blue Devils claimed the series, marking the program's first series win at Clemson since 1993.
The Blue Devils battled from behind for the second consecutive day after falling to an early 1-0 deficit, but reeled off five runs—all of which came with two outs—across the fifth and sixth innings to grab the advantage. Sophomore Jack Carey earned the win for Duke, working 2.2 scoreless innings in relief, allowing only two hits while recording a pair of strikeouts.
BLUE DEVILS ?? TOP????@lil_chris003 cashes in with a RBI double to right to score two! ??
— Duke Baseball (@DukeBASE) April 20, 2019
?? https://t.co/SLPlGUK7Ti#BlueCollar | #GoDuke ?????? pic.twitter.com/tXXF6UyM5n
STAYING HOT ??????@mikerothenberg3 drives in a pair of runs with a RBI single to extend the lead!
— Duke Baseball (@DukeBASE) April 20, 2019
6 RBIs for Roth this weekend ??
?? https://t.co/SLPlGUK7Ti#BlueCollar | #GoDuke ?????? pic.twitter.com/KOx3yzvjG8
Offensively, the Blue Devils were led by the duo of senior Kennie Taylor and sophomore Chris Crabtree, who contributed two hits apiece. Crabtree added a team-high tying two RBI, as fellow sophomore Michael Rothenberg joined him with two RBI of his own.
First series win at Clemson since 1993 ??????????
— Duke Baseball (@DukeBASE) April 20, 2019
That's 3?? ACC series wins in a row ??#BlueCollar | #GoDuke ?????? pic.twitter.com/lkfXttq5Jl
Game 3 Recap
The series finale between the Blue Devils and Tigers proved to be a thrilling nine innings of baseball, as the Duke looked to secure the series sweep. The Blue Devils scored first for the first time all weekend, jumping out to an 8-2 lead behind a pair of home runs from senior Kennie Taylor and sophomore Joey Loperfido.
Clemson exploded for six runs in the bottom of the fifth to even the contest at eight apiece. The Tigers used two home runs, highlighted by a grand slam by Justin Hawkins to battle back and knot the score at 8-8 with four innings to play.
Clemson threatened to score on multiple occasions, but Duke relied on stellar defense from left fielder Kyle Gallagher to keep things close. The With runners on second and third with one down in the seventh, Gallagher fielded a fly ball in shallow left field before firing a strike to home plate to nail the go-ahead runner in a tag attempt to end the inning.
SHOWING OFF THE CANNON ??
— Duke Baseball (@DukeBASE) April 21, 2019
Kyle Gallagher keeps the game tied by throwing out the go-ahead runner at the plate to end the inning! ??
?? https://t.co/YU5BPkGAVC#BlueCollar | #GoDuke ?????? pic.twitter.com/9DICWcWG80
MERV IS NOT A FAN OF TIED BALLGAMES ??@mmervis12 leaves the yard for the solo shot to give the Blue Devils the lead! ????
— Duke Baseball (@DukeBASE) April 21, 2019
?? https://t.co/YU5BPkGAVC#BlueCollar | #GoDuke ?????? pic.twitter.com/505TF3CuCd
In the top of the ninth, junior Matt Mervis broke the tie with a no-doubt solo shot to right, marking his fifth home run of the season to give the Blue Devils a 9-8 lead. The Tigers would did not go quietly, as Gallagher added to his defensive highlights with a game-saving catch. The Duke left fielder robbed the potential game-tying home run with a nice catch over the left field fence to begin the ninth.
HIGHWAY ROBBERY ??
— Duke Baseball (@DukeBASE) April 21, 2019
Gallagher robs a home run to keep the contest tied! ??
?? https://t.co/YU5BPkGAVC#SCTop10#BlueCollar | #GoDuke ?????? pic.twitter.com/cIMcZgJ5uV
For more information on Duke baseball, follow the Blue Devils on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram by searching for "DukeBaseball". You can also find all-access coverage of all Duke athletic programs on SnapChat by searching for "dukeathletics".
#GoDuke
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