Duke Walks Off Virginia Tech, Completes Series Sweep

Sunday, May 16

Durham, N.C.

1 P.M.

Duke University

24-20, 0

Virginia Tech

27-20, 0

Virginia Tech

Duke

Duke Walks Off Virginia Tech, Completes Series Sweep

5/16/2021 6:50:00 PM | Baseball

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DURHAM – Graduate student Erikson Nichols lined a single to left field to score the winning run as the Duke baseball team walked off Virginia Tech, 2-1, on Senior Day to complete the series sweep Sunday afternoon at Jack Coombs Field.

Despite trailing 1-0 since the second inning, Duke scored two in the bottom of the ninth to walk off with the win and series sweep. The Blue Devils (24-20, 13-17 ACC) saw four consecutive batters reach base to begin the ninth inning before Nichols recorded his second hit of the day to score senior Chris Crabtree.

Freshman Luke Fox started on the mound for the Blue Devils for the second consecutive weekend. Fox put in a career-high 5.2 innings of work, allowing one run on five hits and a walk. The southpaw out of Waukesha, Wis., struck out a career-high 10 batters during his time on the hill.

Sunday's game served to be a pitcher's duel as Fox and Virginia Tech southpaw Chris Gerard limited the offense. Gerard finished eight scoreless innings, allowing just six hits and striking out 10 before entering the ninth and allowing the two runs and being tagged with the loss.

The Hokies (27-20, 16-17 ACC) were able to get on the board first in the second inning. A leadoff single put a runner on before a stolen base, wild pitch and throwing error scored the run.

Five Blue Devils reached base consecutively in the bottom of the ninth to secure the win for Duke. Senior Michael Rothenberg and Crabtree led off the inning with back-to-back singles before sophomore Chad Knight reached on an error to load the bases with no outs. Sophomore Graham Pauley then singled through the right side to score the tying run before Nichols' single provided the winner.

Freshman Josh Allen and senior Matt Dockman followed suit with strong pitching performances for the Blue Devils, each posting scoreless outings. Allen recorded two strikeouts in 1.1 innings before Dockman retired six straight in two innings of work. Dockman earned the win in the contest, his first of the season.

Prior to the game, Duke honored 14 graduates for Senior Day. The Blue Devils acknowledged seniors Crabtree, Dockman, Wil Hoyle, Joey Loperfido, Josh Nifong, Rothenberg and graduate students Richard Brereton, Chase Cheek, Chris Davis, Chris Dutra, Jay Gamboa, Peter Matt, Nichols and Coleman Williams.

Duke is back in action on Tuesday when it travels to Davidson for a 4 p.m. first pitch.

Postgame Notes:

Fox became the first true freshman pitcher to record double-digit strikeouts since Cooper Stinson did so at Davidson in 2019.
Sunday's win secured Duke's first series sweep of the season and provided the first walk-off win of the year.
Crabtree extended his on-base streak to 14 games.
Loperfido recorded a hit in his ninth-consecutive game.

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