Five-Run Third Powers Duke Past NC Central

Tuesday, March 16

Durham, N.C.

4 P.M.

Duke University

7-6

NC Central

8-6

NC Central

Duke

Five-Run Third Powers Duke Past NC Central

3/16/2021 9:04:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score Box Score Season Stats Coach Pollard Postgame

DURHAM, N.C. – A five-run third inning powered Duke past North Carolina Central, 7-4, on Tuesday afternoon at the Durham Bulls Athletic Park in downtown Durham.

Duke (7-6, 3-3 ACC) rattled off eight hits throughout the game with graduate student Erikson Nichols going 2-for-4 with two RBIs to lead the Blue Devils. Junior RJ Schreck chipped in as well after finishing 1-for-2 with a double, an RBI and two walks.

Junior right-handed pitcher Jack Carey started on the mound for Duke. He allowed two runs, two walks and two hits in 1.1 innings of work. The Summit, N.J., native added out strikeout during his time on the hill.

NC Central got on the scoreboard first by scoring two runs in the top of the second, but Duke responded with an RBI single from Nichols and a sacrifice fly from senior Chris Crabtree to knot the score at 2-2. The Blue Devils continued their momentum during the next inning when they plated five additional runs, highlighted by an RBI triple from senior Michael Rothenberg, an RBI double by Schreck, and an RBI single from Nichols. The Eagles scored a run in the seventh and the ninth, but were unable to overcome the deficit.

Duke saw a true staff day on Tuesday as it sent eight pitchers out to the mound throughout the game. Freshman Josh Allen threw 1.2 innings retiring all five batters faced to earn the win. Senior southpaw Matt Dockman worked a clean fourth inning using just seven pitches, including a strikeout. Freshman Luke Fox made his fifth appearance of the season, striking out two in the sixth inning.

Duke is back in action this weekend when it travels to South Bend, Ind., to take on Notre Dame for a three-game series. Friday's first pitch is scheduled for 4 p.m.

#GoDuke

Postgame Notes:

Duke scored five runs in the third inning, marking the most the Blue Devils have scored in a single inning this season.
Rothenberg's triple was Duke's fourth of the season, all by different players.
Allen earned the first win of his young career.
Rothenberg has reached base in 37 consecutive games, a streak dating back to 2019.