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Four Blue Devils Return for 2022 Season as Grad Students
8/20/2021 1:45:00 PM | Baseball
DURHAM – Four student-athletes return to the Duke baseball program for their fifth year as Chris Crabtree, Matt Dockman, Wil Hoyle and Josh Nifong will play for the Blue Devils in 2022.
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The year of eligibility relief was granted by the NCAA due to the COVID-19 pandemic which canceled the 2020 season.
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The group, who received their bachelor's degrees this past spring, are pursuing graduate degrees at Duke. Three of the four Blue Devils enrolled in Duke's Fuqua School of Business, working toward a Master of Management Studies, while Dockman is pursuing a Masters of Statistical Science degree.
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Over the past four seasons, the foursome has helped the Blue Devils make program history. In 2018 and 2019, Duke reached the NCAA Super Regionals for the first and second times in school history. In 2018, the foursome's freshman season, the Blue Devils battled back to win the Athens Regional before competing in the Lubbock Super Regional. The next year, Duke swept the Morgantown Regional and headed to Nashville for its Super Regional. In both seasons the Blue Devils were just a game away from a berth in the College World Series.
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In 2021, Duke again made program history as it won the 2021 ACC Baseball Championship. The title was Duke's first conference championship since 1963. It was the first tournament championship by Duke in program history, as the ACC Championship was first created in 1973. In addition, this group of four is the first class in Duke history compete in three consecutive NCAA Regionals.
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Crabtree's successful four years have been highlighted by 122 career hits with 32 doubles, four triples, 18 home runs and 83 RBIs in 140 career games. His 13 home runs in 2021 helped Duke tally the fourth-most home runs in programs history (73) and 18 career homers rank tied for 20th in program lore. Crabtree has slugged .498 so far in his career, which also breaks the top 20 in program history.
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The Bahama, N.C., native was also the NCAA Athens Regional Most Valuable Player in 2018 and named to the NCAA Morgantown Regional All-Tournament Team in 2019. An All-ACC Academic selection in 2019, Crabtree graduated from Duke in May with a degree in Psychology.
Dockman has been one of the top Duke relievers throughout the last four seasons, being a force out of the bullpen. He has made 78 appearances with 107 innings pitched and holds a career ERA of 3.62. In addition, he boasts 105 career strikeouts. Dockman's 78 appearances rank 11th in program history.
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A native of Hilliard, Ohio, Dockman has also excelled in the classroom, having been selected to the 2019, 2020 and 2021 CoSIDA Academic All-District Teams and the All-ACC Academic Baseball Team on three occasions. He graduated from Duke with a double-major in Economics and Mathematics.
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In his four years in Durham, Hoyle has slashed .211/.366/.319 in 87 career games with 48 starts. Hoyle most recently enjoyed his best year offensively, recording 25 hits, eight doubles, a triple, three home runs and 13 RBIs in 47 games and 33 starts in 2021. He drew 16 walks compared to 40 strikeouts. He also recorded a career-high three RBIs with a 2-for-4 performance and a home run against Campbell on April 13, 2021.
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A native of Durham, N.C., Hoyle graduated from Duke with a degree in Visual Media Studies.
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After an elevated role in the pitching rotation in 2021, Nifong returns to Duke for a fifth season. The 6-7 right-handed pitcher made a career-high 13 appearances and 27.1 innings pitcher. In 43.1 career innings of work, Nifong has struck out 45 batters and earned two wins in four starts on the mound.
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The High Point, N.C., native, graduated from Duke with a degree in Political Science and a minor in Cultural Anthropology.
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#GoDukeÂ
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The year of eligibility relief was granted by the NCAA due to the COVID-19 pandemic which canceled the 2020 season.
Â
The group, who received their bachelor's degrees this past spring, are pursuing graduate degrees at Duke. Three of the four Blue Devils enrolled in Duke's Fuqua School of Business, working toward a Master of Management Studies, while Dockman is pursuing a Masters of Statistical Science degree.
Â
Over the past four seasons, the foursome has helped the Blue Devils make program history. In 2018 and 2019, Duke reached the NCAA Super Regionals for the first and second times in school history. In 2018, the foursome's freshman season, the Blue Devils battled back to win the Athens Regional before competing in the Lubbock Super Regional. The next year, Duke swept the Morgantown Regional and headed to Nashville for its Super Regional. In both seasons the Blue Devils were just a game away from a berth in the College World Series.
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In 2021, Duke again made program history as it won the 2021 ACC Baseball Championship. The title was Duke's first conference championship since 1963. It was the first tournament championship by Duke in program history, as the ACC Championship was first created in 1973. In addition, this group of four is the first class in Duke history compete in three consecutive NCAA Regionals.
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Crabtree's successful four years have been highlighted by 122 career hits with 32 doubles, four triples, 18 home runs and 83 RBIs in 140 career games. His 13 home runs in 2021 helped Duke tally the fourth-most home runs in programs history (73) and 18 career homers rank tied for 20th in program lore. Crabtree has slugged .498 so far in his career, which also breaks the top 20 in program history.
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The Bahama, N.C., native was also the NCAA Athens Regional Most Valuable Player in 2018 and named to the NCAA Morgantown Regional All-Tournament Team in 2019. An All-ACC Academic selection in 2019, Crabtree graduated from Duke in May with a degree in Psychology.
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Dockman has been one of the top Duke relievers throughout the last four seasons, being a force out of the bullpen. He has made 78 appearances with 107 innings pitched and holds a career ERA of 3.62. In addition, he boasts 105 career strikeouts. Dockman's 78 appearances rank 11th in program history.
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A native of Hilliard, Ohio, Dockman has also excelled in the classroom, having been selected to the 2019, 2020 and 2021 CoSIDA Academic All-District Teams and the All-ACC Academic Baseball Team on three occasions. He graduated from Duke with a double-major in Economics and Mathematics.
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ÂHe's baaaaack!
— Duke Baseball (@DukeBASE) August 20, 2021
Dock is the fourth ???? returning for their fifth year.#BlueCollar | #GoDuke pic.twitter.com/2EjUR1IR6y
In his four years in Durham, Hoyle has slashed .211/.366/.319 in 87 career games with 48 starts. Hoyle most recently enjoyed his best year offensively, recording 25 hits, eight doubles, a triple, three home runs and 13 RBIs in 47 games and 33 starts in 2021. He drew 16 walks compared to 40 strikeouts. He also recorded a career-high three RBIs with a 2-for-4 performance and a home run against Campbell on April 13, 2021.
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A native of Durham, N.C., Hoyle graduated from Duke with a degree in Visual Media Studies.
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We've done a lot but I know I got more to give. Can't leave home. Let's do this!! @DukeBASE #DialHimUp pic.twitter.com/QFwbwEY5ui
— WIL HOYLE (@its_willyy) August 17, 2021
After an elevated role in the pitching rotation in 2021, Nifong returns to Duke for a fifth season. The 6-7 right-handed pitcher made a career-high 13 appearances and 27.1 innings pitcher. In 43.1 career innings of work, Nifong has struck out 45 batters and earned two wins in four starts on the mound.
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The High Point, N.C., native, graduated from Duke with a degree in Political Science and a minor in Cultural Anthropology.
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#GoDukeÂ
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