Duke Drops Series Finale Against Pitt, 5-4

Sunday, March 7

Durham, N.C.

1 P.M.

Duke University

6-5, 0

Pittsburgh

7-3, 0

Pittsburgh

Duke

Duke Drops Series Finale Against Pitt, 5-4

3/7/2021 5:55:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score Box Score Season Stats Coach Pollard Postgame

DUHRAM, N.C. – Duke dropped the series finale against Pittsburgh 5-4 on Sunday afternoon at the Durham Bulls Athletic Park in downtown Durham, N.C.

Graduates Peter Matt and Erikson Nichols led the Blue Devils offensively with two hits each. Matt recorded a double, a triple and two RBI while Erikson registered two singles.

Junior Jack Carey made his third start one the mound for the Blue Devils this season. Carey, a native of Summit, N.J., recorded strikeouts while allowing just two runs on three walks and two hits in 3.2 innings of work.

Duke jumped out to a lead, scoring in three of the first four innings. In the bottom of the first, Matt doubled to left center to score junior Ethan Murray. Pittsburgh responded with a run of its own in the next frame to tie the game 1-1. The game stayed tied until senior Michael Rothenberg hit a two-run home run in the bottom of the third inning. Just an inning later, Matt recorded the first triple of his season and just the seventh of his career to plate senior Joey Loperfido and extend Duke's lead to 4-2.

Pittsburgh's bullpen gained control for the Panthers, not allowing a run after the fourth inning. The visitors added one in the sixth before a two-run home run in the top of the eighth gave them a 5-4 lead they would not relinquish.

Duke used seven pitchers and in total threw 15 strikeouts throughout the game.

Next up for Duke, the Blue Devils will seek to level the season series with East Carolina as the Pirates come to Durham on Tuesday for a midweek matchup. First pitch is scheduled for 4 p.m.

Postgame Notes:

Carey struck out a career-high seven batters.
Rothenberg's home run was his first of the season.
Loperfido scored two runs during the game to increase his team-leading total to 15 on the season.
Rothenberg reached base for the 35th consecutive game.
Duke has struck out 10+ batters in each of the last four games.

#GoDuke