Duke Tops Virginia, 7-4

Sunday, April 25

Charlottesville, Va.

2 P.M.

Duke University

18-18, 9-15

Virginia

19-19, 11-16

Duke

Virginia

4/25/2021 6:43:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score Box Score Season Stats Coach Pollard Postgame

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Graduate student Peter Matt hit home runs in back-to-back plate appearances as the Duke baseball team won the series finale at Virginia, 7-4, on Sunday afternoon at Davenport Field.

Duke found success with the long ball, scoring all of its seven runs on four home runs throughout the game. Matt led the Blue Devils with a 2-for-5 performance, including two home runs and three RBIs. Junior Ethan Murray also had a successful day at the plate, finishing 3-for-4 with a walk.

Junior Cooper Stinson made his 10th start on the mound this season. A native of Peachtree Corners, Ga., Stinson allowed three runs on four hits and two walks while striking out one batter in 1.2 innings of work.

Duke (18-18, 9-15 ACC) took an early lead, scoring three in the second inning. After the first two Blue Devils were retired, senior Joey Loperfido walked before sophomore Chad Knight singled through the left side to put runners on first and second. Senior Chris Crabtree then hit a high shot that carried over the right field wall for a three-run home run to give Duke a 3-0 lead.

Unfortunately, the lead did not last long for Duke as Virginia (19-19, 11-16 ACC) responded with three runs in the bottom half of the inning.

Senior Michael Rothenberg restored the Blue Devils' lead in the third, hitting a solo home run to center field with two outs. The longball was Rothenberg's third of the series after hitting two on Friday.

Virginia tied the game at 4-4 in the fifth inning, but Matt hit a solo shot over the right field wall to restore Duke's lead.

The Blue Devils added two more to their lead in the eighth inning, again by the way of the home run. Rothenberg was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning before Matt hit his second home run of the day, this time to right center.

Sophomore Marcus Johnson closed the door on the Cavaliers' offense, allowing just two hits and a walk in 4.1 scoreless innings pitched. The Fontana, Calif., native struck out four during his time on the hill. His outing was the longest of his career as he picked up his third collegiate win.

Duke enjoys a week off for the end of semester exam break. The Blue Devils return to action on Tuesday, May 4, as they host William & Mary.

Postgame Notes:

Five of Duke's seven runs were plated with two outs.
Matt became the second Blue Devil in just three days to hit a home run in back-to-back plate appearances. Rothenberg did the same on Friday.
Crabtree's home run in the second inning was his 100^th career hit, becoming the seventh Blue Devil on the active roster to boast triple-digit career hits.
The longball was Crabtree's second of the series and sixth this season.
Duke totaled 14 runs over the series at Virginia. Thirteen of those runs were scored by a home run.
The Blue Devils' eight home runs over the weekend were the most since hitting seven at Virginia in 2017.

#GoDuke