Duke Pitches Past VMI, 9-1

Saturday, February 19

Durham, N.C.

3:00 P.M.

Duke University

1-1

Virginia Military Institute

1-1

VMI

Duke

2/19/2022 8:30:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score BOX SCORE SEASON STATS COACH POLLARD POSTGAME PHOTO GALLERY

DURHAM – Sophomore southpaw Luke Fox and junior right-hander Billy Seidl combined for 11 strikeouts while surrendering just four hits to push Duke past Virginia Military Institute, 9-1, on Saturday afternoon at the Durham Bulls Athletic Park.

"Today was our formula," head coach Chris Pollard said. "Really good pitching, attacked the zone. Then, really good defense and we were opportunistic at the plate. We got in the bullpen and got the flow going late."

Offensively, senior Damon Lux and junior Chad Knight led Duke (1-1) at the plate. Lux finished 2-for-3 with five RBIs, including a two-run home run. Knight was perfect at the plate, reaching base five times in five trips with two hits, two RBIs and three walks.

Fox started on the mound for Duke. The Waukesha, Wis., native gave up just one run on four hits and a walk while fanning five to earn the win. The Keydets Nathan Light surrendered four runs on seven hits and five walks to suffer the loss.

VMI (1-1) opened the game with a run in the first frame for the second consecutive day. Duke responded in the bottom frame with a run and didn't look back. The Blue Devils secured a leadoff walk from graduate student Wil Hoyle in the bottom of the fourth and seized on it with four singles in the next five at-bats to plate two runs. Lux would add the third run of the inning with a sacrifice fly to extend the lead to 4-1.

In the bottom of the sixth, Knight drove in freshman Alex Mooney with an RBI single to remain perfect at the plate on the day. Duke sealed the game two innings later with a four-run frame, highlighted by a three-run home run by Lux.

Seidl was stellar in relief of Fox and earned his first save of the season. The Wellesley, Mass., native recorded six strikeouts in four hitless innings pitched.

Duke will take the field for the rubber game of the series against VMI on Sunday at 1 p.m. The game will be broadcast on ACCNX and on the radio on the Varsity App.

NOTES:

Seidl's four innings of work was a career high, while his six strikeouts matched his career high set at the ACC Championship last season.
Knight secured a career-high three walks in the contest.
Lux's five RBIs and home run were the first of his career.
Mooney stole two bases on Saturday to take the team lead this season.

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