Completed Event: Baseball versus Murray State on June 9, 2025 , Loss , 4, to, 5
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Final
Baseball
4
vs Murray State
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Photo by: Duke Athletics
Duke Baseball Player Profile: Matt Mervis
5/29/2020 12:30:00 PM | Baseball
DURHAM, N.C. – Following a breakout junior campaign, senior Matt Mervis returned to Durham looking to continue his success while emerging as a leader in the Duke baseball program.
"It's interesting because we talked as a coaching staff over the fall about how we saw Matt's leadership beginning to emerge," said head coach Chris Pollard. "He had willingness to be more vocal, while taking charge. I'm really proud of Matt and his growth in our program. From day one in the fall, he set a tone with the way he played and the way he carried himself. I'm really proud of his growth."
After injuries plagued the Blue Devils early on in 2019 as starting second baseman Joey Loperfido went down with a wrist injury, Mervis stepped into a starting role. The Potomac, Md., native became the team's starting third baseman, before remaining in the lineup at both designated hitter and first base as Loperfido returned from injury.
"I was just looking for ways to work myself into the lineup so I had to take advantage of pinch hit opportunities early in the season," said Mervis. "I had a few good at-bats which led to more chances and helped me stay in the lineup after Loperfido got healthy."
Mervis closed out his junior campaign ranking fourth on the team in batting average, hitting at a .274 clip, while tying for third on the squad in home runs with six on the season. His second home run came in just his second start of the season—the series finale at Virginia. Mervis launched a two-run shot in the fourth inning before making a relief appearance on the mound, working 1.1 innings to earn his first win of the season.
Mervis continued his hot hitting across conference play, highlighted by a standout performances against both Pittsburgh and Clemson. In the series finale against the Panthers, he registered a career-high four hits with a 4-for-5 effort, including a double, four RBI and three runs scored.
He followed that up with an impressive performance in the series finale at Clemson to help the Blue Devils record their first road sweep over the Tigers since 1948. Mervis launched the go-ahead home run in the top of the ninth, while closing out the ballgame 3-for-5 with one RBI and three runs scored.
"I had a really good weekend up to that point and was seeing the ball really well," Mervis noted of the Clemson series. "(Carson) Spiers had pitched against us earlier in the weekend so I noticed that he liked his changeup in advantage counts. He got ahead 0-1, so I was expecting a changeup and he left it in a spot that I could hit it hard."
Following his breakout junior campaign, Mervis took his talents to the Cape Cod Baseball League to compete for the Cotuit Kettleers, where he posted a standout summer. He was selected as an All-Star in the CCBL at the midway point before being named to the All-League Team as an utility player following the conclusion of the summer season.
"I had a blast in the summer playing for Cotuit and Coach Roberts, who helped me develop a ton offensively and on the mound," Mervis said of his summer in the Cape Cod. "After not getting drafted, I went to the Cape with a mindset of proving myself against the best players in the country. I played every day with the goal of beating the guys I was playing against and making a name for myself so that I couldn't be passed up on again."
Mervis helped lead the Kettleers to the 2019 Cape Cod League championship along with Duke teammate Joey Loperfido, marking the team's 17th championship in franchise history. Mervis closed out the campaign batting an impressive .325 with 15 runs scored and four home runs. The left-handed slugger ranked second on the squad in RBI with 24, while also placing second in slugging percentage with a mark of .571. On the mound, Mervis worked 16.2 innings across nine appearances, posting a 3.24 ERA.
"It was an honor to play in the All-Star game and be named to the All-League Team, but winning the championship is a memory I'll never forget," Mervis added.
Mervis returned to Durham looking to carry over his successful summer into his senior campaign, being recognized as the No. 19 senior in the country by Perfect Game entering the spring and being tabbed to the Bobby Bragan Collegiate Slugger Award Watch List. The 6-4 first baseman/pitcher posted an impressive showing throughout the fall, while being elected as a team captain prior to the start of the season.
"Matt Mervis is poised to have a tremendous senior year coming off a really strong 2019 season," Pollard said prior to the start of the 2020 season. "He followed that up with a great summer in the Cape Cod League. He had by far his best preseason this past fall and has felt the best in terms of health. He was elected a captain by his teammates which shows the development of maturation and the respect he has from his team."
"Being recognized by my teammates as a leader means a lot to me because I've always prided myself in being a leader and a friend to everyone in the locker room," Mervis said of being named captain. "I was proud to lead this year's team, even with the shortened season, because we all knew we had a special team."
Mervis led the Blue Devils both on and off the field, starting his senior season off with a bang. Mervis, along with teammate Michael Rothenberg, formed one of the toughest three-four lineup combos in the country, as the duo ranked first and second on the team in multiple offensive categories.
Mervis led the team in hits (17), home runs (3) and total bases (33), while ranking second in RBI (15), as he reached base safely in every contest across the shortened season.
He led the charge in the comeback against Army on opening weekend, helping the Blue Devils to their first win of the season. Facing a 7-1 deficit, Mervis launched his first career grand slam over the right field bleachers at the Durham Bulls Athletic Park to trim the margin to 7-5 and place Duke within striking distance. The senior co-captain closed out the game with a 3-for-5 effort, finishing with a career-high five RBI, one walk and one run scored.
One week later, Mervis highlighted the team's offensive explosion against Air Force as the Blue Devils finished with a season-high 15 hits and 16 runs en route to a 16-0 victory over the Falcons. He posted a three-hit effort, finishing a single shy of the cycle before being replaced. Mervis closed out the afternoon 3-for-4 with a double, triple, home run, three RBI and a team-high three runs scored.
"Individual recognition is always nice to receive, like I mentioned about the Cape, but team accomplishments mean a lot more to me," Mervis noted. "With the season cut short, the thought of missing out on the College World Series hurts a lot more than potentially missing out on an individual award."
Mervis' efforts were recognized by several national publications, as he was regarded as the No. 14 first baseman in the country by D1Baseball following the abrupt ending of the 2020 season.
Additionally, D1Baseball also ranked him as the No. 25 senior hitter in all of college baseball.
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
"It's interesting because we talked as a coaching staff over the fall about how we saw Matt's leadership beginning to emerge," said head coach Chris Pollard. "He had willingness to be more vocal, while taking charge. I'm really proud of Matt and his growth in our program. From day one in the fall, he set a tone with the way he played and the way he carried himself. I'm really proud of his growth."
After injuries plagued the Blue Devils early on in 2019 as starting second baseman Joey Loperfido went down with a wrist injury, Mervis stepped into a starting role. The Potomac, Md., native became the team's starting third baseman, before remaining in the lineup at both designated hitter and first base as Loperfido returned from injury.
"I was just looking for ways to work myself into the lineup so I had to take advantage of pinch hit opportunities early in the season," said Mervis. "I had a few good at-bats which led to more chances and helped me stay in the lineup after Loperfido got healthy."
Mervis closed out his junior campaign ranking fourth on the team in batting average, hitting at a .274 clip, while tying for third on the squad in home runs with six on the season. His second home run came in just his second start of the season—the series finale at Virginia. Mervis launched a two-run shot in the fourth inning before making a relief appearance on the mound, working 1.1 innings to earn his first win of the season.
T4 | BLAST OFF! ?? @mmervis12 goes yard for a two-run shot to extend the lead!
— Duke Baseball (@DukeBASE) March 10, 2019
???? 3, UVA 0 pic.twitter.com/Cz0Rj3Phco
Mervis continued his hot hitting across conference play, highlighted by a standout performances against both Pittsburgh and Clemson. In the series finale against the Panthers, he registered a career-high four hits with a 4-for-5 effort, including a double, four RBI and three runs scored.
He followed that up with an impressive performance in the series finale at Clemson to help the Blue Devils record their first road sweep over the Tigers since 1948. Mervis launched the go-ahead home run in the top of the ninth, while closing out the ballgame 3-for-5 with one RBI and three runs scored.
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
"I had a really good weekend up to that point and was seeing the ball really well," Mervis noted of the Clemson series. "(Carson) Spiers had pitched against us earlier in the weekend so I noticed that he liked his changeup in advantage counts. He got ahead 0-1, so I was expecting a changeup and he left it in a spot that I could hit it hard."
Following his breakout junior campaign, Mervis took his talents to the Cape Cod Baseball League to compete for the Cotuit Kettleers, where he posted a standout summer. He was selected as an All-Star in the CCBL at the midway point before being named to the All-League Team as an utility player following the conclusion of the summer season.
That All-Star feeling ??
— Duke Baseball (@DukeBASE) July 15, 2019
Congrats to @mmervis12 on being named to the @Official_CCBL All-Star roster! ????
???? https://t.co/LPTQbXAuik#BlueCollar | #GoDuke ?????? pic.twitter.com/Olfaa4POO9
"I had a blast in the summer playing for Cotuit and Coach Roberts, who helped me develop a ton offensively and on the mound," Mervis said of his summer in the Cape Cod. "After not getting drafted, I went to the Cape with a mindset of proving myself against the best players in the country. I played every day with the goal of beating the guys I was playing against and making a name for myself so that I couldn't be passed up on again."
Congrats to our guys @mmervis12 and @joeyloperfido on winning the 2019 @Official_CCBL championship! ?? https://t.co/vNnSas5qEb
— Duke Baseball (@DukeBASE) August 9, 2019
Mervis helped lead the Kettleers to the 2019 Cape Cod League championship along with Duke teammate Joey Loperfido, marking the team's 17th championship in franchise history. Mervis closed out the campaign batting an impressive .325 with 15 runs scored and four home runs. The left-handed slugger ranked second on the squad in RBI with 24, while also placing second in slugging percentage with a mark of .571. On the mound, Mervis worked 16.2 innings across nine appearances, posting a 3.24 ERA.
"It was an honor to play in the All-Star game and be named to the All-League Team, but winning the championship is a memory I'll never forget," Mervis added.
.@mmervis12 balled out in the @Official_CCBL this summer ??
— Duke Baseball (@DukeBASE) September 6, 2019
??: https://t.co/6gL1BtRatP#BlueCollar | #GoDuke ??????
Mervis returned to Durham looking to carry over his successful summer into his senior campaign, being recognized as the No. 19 senior in the country by Perfect Game entering the spring and being tabbed to the Bobby Bragan Collegiate Slugger Award Watch List. The 6-4 first baseman/pitcher posted an impressive showing throughout the fall, while being elected as a team captain prior to the start of the season.
Congrats to @mmervis12 on being named to the Bobby Bragan Collegiate Slugger Award Watch List! ??
— Duke Baseball (@DukeBASE) February 21, 2020
??: https://t.co/ljP1WSlP0B#BlueCollar | #GoDuke ?????? pic.twitter.com/kY7dShEdCX
"Matt Mervis is poised to have a tremendous senior year coming off a really strong 2019 season," Pollard said prior to the start of the 2020 season. "He followed that up with a great summer in the Cape Cod League. He had by far his best preseason this past fall and has felt the best in terms of health. He was elected a captain by his teammates which shows the development of maturation and the respect he has from his team."
"Being recognized by my teammates as a leader means a lot to me because I've always prided myself in being a leader and a friend to everyone in the locker room," Mervis said of being named captain. "I was proud to lead this year's team, even with the shortened season, because we all knew we had a special team."
Mervis led the Blue Devils both on and off the field, starting his senior season off with a bang. Mervis, along with teammate Michael Rothenberg, formed one of the toughest three-four lineup combos in the country, as the duo ranked first and second on the team in multiple offensive categories.
Big time power from the cleanup man ??
— Duke Baseball (@DukeBASE) February 24, 2020
Second homer of the season for Merv ??@mmervis12 | #GoDuke ?????? pic.twitter.com/FZlDXgNlEz
Mervis led the team in hits (17), home runs (3) and total bases (33), while ranking second in RBI (15), as he reached base safely in every contest across the shortened season.
He led the charge in the comeback against Army on opening weekend, helping the Blue Devils to their first win of the season. Facing a 7-1 deficit, Mervis launched his first career grand slam over the right field bleachers at the Durham Bulls Athletic Park to trim the margin to 7-5 and place Duke within striking distance. The senior co-captain closed out the game with a 3-for-5 effort, finishing with a career-high five RBI, one walk and one run scored.
GRAND SLAM ????@mmervis12 launches one into deep right for his first homer of the season #BlueCollar | #GoDuke ?????? pic.twitter.com/YabCUUZxt3
— Duke Baseball (@DukeBASE) February 15, 2020
?? that flip.#NCAABaseball | @DukeBASE
— NCAA Baseball (@NCAACWS) February 16, 2020
pic.twitter.com/agNpmBFgfa
One week later, Mervis highlighted the team's offensive explosion against Air Force as the Blue Devils finished with a season-high 15 hits and 16 runs en route to a 16-0 victory over the Falcons. He posted a three-hit effort, finishing a single shy of the cycle before being replaced. Mervis closed out the afternoon 3-for-4 with a double, triple, home run, three RBI and a team-high three runs scored.
"Individual recognition is always nice to receive, like I mentioned about the Cape, but team accomplishments mean a lot more to me," Mervis noted. "With the season cut short, the thought of missing out on the College World Series hurts a lot more than potentially missing out on an individual award."
??@mmervis12 coming in ?? at number 1?4?#BlueCollar | #GoDuke ?????? https://t.co/lb0aSTmipa
— Duke Baseball (@DukeBASE) April 23, 2020
Mervis' efforts were recognized by several national publications, as he was regarded as the No. 14 first baseman in the country by D1Baseball following the abrupt ending of the 2020 season.
Additionally, D1Baseball also ranked him as the No. 25 senior hitter in all of college baseball.
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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