Completed Event: Baseball versus Murray State on June 9, 2025 , Loss , 4, to, 5
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Final
Baseball
4
vs Murray State
5
Tuesday, April 6
Durham, N.C.
6 P.M.
Duke University
vs
NC Central
Duke Welcomes NC Central for Midweek Game
4/5/2021 6:22:00 PM | Baseball
DURHAM – Duke hosts cross-town foe NC Central for a midweek nonconference game on Tuesday at 6 p.m. at the Durham Bulls Athletic Park in downtown Durham, N.C.
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FIRST PITCH
HOW TO FOLLOW
Chris Edwards has the call on the Blue Devil Sports Network from Learfield IMG College and will be available on GoDuke.com or the TuneIn app.
Tuesday, 6 p.m. – TuneIn – Live Stats
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SERIES HISTORY
Duke and NC Central take the field for the 27th time in the two programs' history, dating back to 2008. Duke currently leads the all-time series, 26-0, including a 22-0 mark at home. The two teams first meeting came in 2008 and have competed at least once a year since then. Earlier this season, Duke topped NC Central, 7-4, at the Durham Bulls Athletic Park on March 16, highlighted by a five-run third inning to propel the Blue Devils to the victory. Head coach Chris Pollard owns a 16-0 career record against NC Central, including a 15-0 record against the Eagles while at Duke.
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SCOUTING THE EAGLES
NC Central enters the game coming off of a pause in the season since March 21. The Eagles hold a 10-8 record, and Chet Sikes leads NC Central with a .320 batting average and five doubles. Luis DeLeon ties to lead the team with 17 hits while boasting the most triples (three) and RBIs (16) so far this season.
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A COMMON FOE
Duke has taken the field against NC Central 25 times through 12 seasons (2008-2019) to be one of the Blue Devils most common non-conference opponents in recent years. The two teams are scheduled to face each other twice this season, the first meeting on Tuesday, March 16 and the second on Tuesday, April 6.
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On Feb. 11, NC Central announced that it will discontinue the sport of baseball at the conclusion of the 2021 season.
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DUKE CONTINUES K'S 4 KIDS' CANCER
Duke baseball announced the renewal of the K's 4 Kids' Cancer campaign, which is now in its third season with the team. Fans can help Duke baseball strikeout children's cancer by making a pledge for every strikeout that Blue Devil pitchers rack up this season. In just two years, the campaign has raised over $25,000 and all funds go directly to support cancer research and patient care at Duke Children's Hospital.
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DOUBLE TROUBLE
The Blue Devils are currently among the conference leaders in doubles (55 - third in the ACC) and doubles per game (2.29 - third in the ACC). Senior Michael Rothenberg sits tied for third in the ACC with nine doubles so far this season. Graduate student Peter Matt, senior Chris Crabtree and redshirt senior Wil Hoyle all boast six doubles.
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GOT EM BOTH
Duke's defense up the middle has found success turning double plays, boasting 19 double plays. Those 19 tie for third in the ACC so far this season. Junior Ethan Murray leads the team and ties for second in the conference in the category, being involved in 14 double plays.
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ROTHENBERG APPROACHING RECORD BOOKS
Senior Michael Rothenberg is currently tied for 22nd in program history in home runs (17) and 11th in program history in hit-by-pitch (29). He is also nearing the top 25 lists of school history in walks and RBIs as well. The Boca Raton native has 76 career walks, nearing Luis Duarte's 86 from 1992-95 that rank 25th. His 101 career RBIs are approaching JD Alleva (1998-01) and Jeff Piscorik (1992-95) who tie for 25th in school history with 122.
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GRAND SLAMMIN'
Senior Joey Loperfido recorded the first grand slam of his career at Miami on April 3, 2021 and Duke's first since classmate Michael Rothenberg's grand slam last season against Campbell (March 4, 2020). Loperfido finished the game with five RBIs, matching his career high previously set against Bucknell in 2018.
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#GoDuke
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FIRST PITCH
- Duke (11-13, 5-10 ACC) welcomes NC Central (10-8, 2-2 MEAC) on Tuesday at the DBAP. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m.
- The Blue Devils' have played the eighth toughest schedule this season as their opponents currently combine for a 307-182 record.
- Senior Michael Rothenberg ranks third in the ACC in doubles with nine this season. Duke's 55 doubles and 2.29 doubles per game rank third in the league.
- Duke and NC Central meet for the second time this season as the Blue Devils enjoyed a 7-4 win over the Eagles on March 16.
- The Blue Devils and Eagles meet for the 27th time in the two programs' histories. Duke holds an unblemished record against NC Central, 26-0. Head coach Chris Pollard holds a 16-0 record over NC Central with 15 of his wins coming while at Duke.
HOW TO FOLLOW
Chris Edwards has the call on the Blue Devil Sports Network from Learfield IMG College and will be available on GoDuke.com or the TuneIn app.
Tuesday, 6 p.m. – TuneIn – Live Stats
Â
SERIES HISTORY
Duke and NC Central take the field for the 27th time in the two programs' history, dating back to 2008. Duke currently leads the all-time series, 26-0, including a 22-0 mark at home. The two teams first meeting came in 2008 and have competed at least once a year since then. Earlier this season, Duke topped NC Central, 7-4, at the Durham Bulls Athletic Park on March 16, highlighted by a five-run third inning to propel the Blue Devils to the victory. Head coach Chris Pollard owns a 16-0 career record against NC Central, including a 15-0 record against the Eagles while at Duke.
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SCOUTING THE EAGLES
NC Central enters the game coming off of a pause in the season since March 21. The Eagles hold a 10-8 record, and Chet Sikes leads NC Central with a .320 batting average and five doubles. Luis DeLeon ties to lead the team with 17 hits while boasting the most triples (three) and RBIs (16) so far this season.
Â
A COMMON FOE
Duke has taken the field against NC Central 25 times through 12 seasons (2008-2019) to be one of the Blue Devils most common non-conference opponents in recent years. The two teams are scheduled to face each other twice this season, the first meeting on Tuesday, March 16 and the second on Tuesday, April 6.
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On Feb. 11, NC Central announced that it will discontinue the sport of baseball at the conclusion of the 2021 season.
Â
DUKE CONTINUES K'S 4 KIDS' CANCER
Duke baseball announced the renewal of the K's 4 Kids' Cancer campaign, which is now in its third season with the team. Fans can help Duke baseball strikeout children's cancer by making a pledge for every strikeout that Blue Devil pitchers rack up this season. In just two years, the campaign has raised over $25,000 and all funds go directly to support cancer research and patient care at Duke Children's Hospital.
Â
DOUBLE TROUBLE
The Blue Devils are currently among the conference leaders in doubles (55 - third in the ACC) and doubles per game (2.29 - third in the ACC). Senior Michael Rothenberg sits tied for third in the ACC with nine doubles so far this season. Graduate student Peter Matt, senior Chris Crabtree and redshirt senior Wil Hoyle all boast six doubles.
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GOT EM BOTH
Duke's defense up the middle has found success turning double plays, boasting 19 double plays. Those 19 tie for third in the ACC so far this season. Junior Ethan Murray leads the team and ties for second in the conference in the category, being involved in 14 double plays.
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ROTHENBERG APPROACHING RECORD BOOKS
Senior Michael Rothenberg is currently tied for 22nd in program history in home runs (17) and 11th in program history in hit-by-pitch (29). He is also nearing the top 25 lists of school history in walks and RBIs as well. The Boca Raton native has 76 career walks, nearing Luis Duarte's 86 from 1992-95 that rank 25th. His 101 career RBIs are approaching JD Alleva (1998-01) and Jeff Piscorik (1992-95) who tie for 25th in school history with 122.
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GRAND SLAMMIN'
Senior Joey Loperfido recorded the first grand slam of his career at Miami on April 3, 2021 and Duke's first since classmate Michael Rothenberg's grand slam last season against Campbell (March 4, 2020). Loperfido finished the game with five RBIs, matching his career high previously set against Bucknell in 2018.
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#GoDuke
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