Blue Devils Split Double Header at Clemson Saturday

Saturday, March 18

Clemson, SC

1 PM

Duke University

12-6, 2-2

Clemson

11-7, 0-1

Duke

Clemson

Blue Devils Split Double Header at Clemson Saturday

3/18/2023 10:01:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2 Box Score Game One (PDF)Postgame Notes Game One (PDF)Box Score Game Two (PDF)Postgame Notes Game Two (PDF)Photo Gallery Photo Gallery 2

CLEMSON, S.C. – Duke Baseball (12-7, 2-3 ACC) hit seven home runs in Saturday's double header to split the first two games of the series against the Clemson Tigers (12-7, 1-1 ACC) at Doug Kingsmore Stadium in Clemson, S.C. The Blue Devils held on for a 3-2 victory in game one of the day, before falling 14-9 in the night cap, despite hitting five home runs.

Graduate transfer Giovanni DiGiacomo hit the eventual game-winning two-run home run in game one of the series after freshman Andrew Fischer led off the inning with a solo home run of his own. In game two, Duke hit five home runs, as Fischer hit his second home run of the day and junior Jay Beshears hit two towering blasts to left field.

HOW IT HAPPENED – GAME ONE

Clemson took an early lead in the bottom of the first inning, scoring on a bases loaded walk, 1-0.
The Tigers added to their lead in the bottom of the fourth, 2-0.
Freshman Andrew Fischer led off the top of the fifth with a solo home run to cut the lead to 2-1. Later in the inning graduate transfer Giovanni DiGiacomo hit a two-run home run to left field to give Duke the lead, 3-2.

HOW IT HAPPENED – GAME TWO

Clemson jumped out to an early lead in the bottom of the first inning, scoring on a bloop single to right center field and a double steal, 3-0.
Freshman Andrew Fischer homered for the second consecutive game to open the scoring for Duke, a solo shot to right field, 3-1. Duke tied the ballgame later in the inning on a bases loaded walk and a groundout to first, 3-3.
The Tigers regained the lead in the bottom of the second inning, 4-3.
Junior Alex Stone hit his fourth home run of the season to tie the ballgame in the top of the third inning, 4-4. The Blue Devils regained the lead in the top of the third inning when MJ Metz collected a two-out RBI to score Fischer from third, 5-4.
Clemson jumped back into the lead in the bottom of the third, 9-5.
Junior Jay Beshears cut the Tigers lead to two in the top of the fourth inning with a two-run home run to left field, 9-7.
The Tigers added four more in the bottom of the fourth, 13-7.
Clemson added a run in bottom of the fifth on a solo home run to center field, 14-7.
Beshears hit his second home run of the game in the top of the sixth, a solo home run to left field, 14-8.
Metz led off the top of the seventh inning with a solo home run to right center field, 14-9.

NOTES

Freshman Andrew Fischer hit his third home run of the season in game one of the double header, a solo shot to right field. He followed up that performance with a home run in the second game of the day, a solo shot to right field.
Graduate transfer Giovanni DiGiacomo hit his third home run of the season in game one, a two-run shot which turned out to be the game winner.
Fran Oschell III, Charlie Beilenson, Owen Proksch and James Tallon combined to shut down the Tigers offense in game one, working the final 4.2 innings to secure the series opener. Tallon recorded his third save of the season, working the final 1.2 innings.
Junior Alex Stone hit his fourth home run of the season in game two, a solo home run in the third inning.
Junior Jay Beshears hit his first multi-home run game of the season, collecting three RBI in game two.
Graduate transfer MJ Metz hit his first home run since opening day in game two, a solo home run to right center field.
The Blue Devils hit five home runs in game two of the series, the second time this season and first since they accomplished the feat against Princeton in early March.
Duke hit seven home runs over the first two games of the series, two in the opener and five in game two.

QUOTES

"We were really gritty and tough in the first ballgame. We had to pitch through a lot of traffic on the bases and every one of our relievers came in during a dirty inning. I thought the job that Jonathan Santucci did in limiting damage early was the difference for us. Jonathan pitched really tough and pitched much better than the box score would show. We got down early and had to fight our way back into it. To hold on and finish the way that we did with the traffic on the bases, I thought it was a maturing game for us." – Head coach Chris Pollard on game one of the double header.
"His [Andrew Fischer] approach at the plate has been so good. He is able, because of his swing and his bat speed, to see the ball so long. He makes really good decisions and rarely goes out of the zone to swing at a pitch. His plate discipline and understanding of the strike zone is advanced beyond his years." – On freshman Andrew Fischer's maturity at the plate this season.
"I thought Jay did a good job of flushing out some of the negative and getting himself back in the moment. I give a lot of credit to our coaching staff, coach Blankmeyer and coach Tyler for having some good conversations with Jay between games and helped him get back in the moment. It is a long season, and you go through those dips, valleys and lulls. You just have to be able to play through them with a neutral mindset." – On junior Jay Beshears multi-home run day in game two.