Offense Erupts, Duke Levels Series with Pitt

Saturday, April 1

Durham, N.C.

3 PM

Duke University

17-10, 5-6

Pitt

12-12, 4-5

Pittsburgh

Duke

Offense Erupts, Duke Levels Series with Pitt

4/1/2023 7:16:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)Postgame Notes (PDF)Coach Pollard Postgame Interview Photo Gallery

DURHAM, N.C. – Duke Baseball (17-10, 5-6 ACC) had six players with multi-RBI days, as the Blue Devils defeated Pittsburgh (12-12, 4-5 ACC), 11-7, on Saturday at Jack Coombs Field. Sophomore right-handed Fran Oschell III improved to 3-0 out of the bullpen, working 1.2 innings and striking out three Panthers.

Sophomore Alex Mooney and junior Jay Beshears collected their 100th career hits in the victory, while Beshears paved the way for Duke with four RBI.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Junior Alex Stone opened the scoring for Duke in the bottom of the first inning, singling to left field to score Andrew Fischer, 1-0.
Pitt tied the ballgame in the top of the second inning, scoring on an error by third base, 1-1.
Graduate transfer Giovanni DiGiacomo gave Duke the lead in the bottom of the second, hitting a solo home run to center field, 2-1.
The Panthers regained the lead in the top of the third inning, scoring three runs, 4-2.
Junior Jay Beshears doubled to the gap in right center to score Fischer from first in the bottom of the third, 4-3. Senior Chad Knight singled to left field to score Beshears from third to tie the game, 4-4. Freshman Tyler Albright gave Duke the lead with a single to right field to score Knight from third, 5-4.
The Panthers regained the lead in the top of the fourth inning, scoring a pair, 6-5.
Beshears tied the ballgame in the bottom of the fourth inning, doubling to left center field to score Fischer from third, 6-6.
In the bottom of the sixth, sophomore Alex Mooney doubled down the line in left to score DiGiacomo from first, 7-6. Stone grounded into a fielder's choice and Knight singled to right field to extend the lead to 9-6.
Pitt cut into the Duke lead in the top of the seventh inning, hitting a solo home run to center field, 9-7.
Mooney singled to center field to score Albright from second to extend the lead, 10-7. Beshears singled up the middle to score Mooney from third to increase the lead, 11-7.

NOTES

Graduate transfer Giovanni DiGiacomo hit his fourth home run of the season on Saturday afternoon, a solo home run to center field.
Junior Jay Beshears collected a 4-for-4 day at the plate, tallying his 100th career hit and driving in four runs for the Blue Devils.
Sophomore Alex Mooney finished the day 2-for-6 with two runs scored and two RBI. He tallied his 100th career hit in the seventh inning with a single.
Sophomore Fran Oschell III improved to 3-0 on the season out of the bullpen, working 1.2 innings and striking out three. Oschell III allowed three hits and one run.
Six Blue Devils collected multi-RBI days on Saturday, with Beshears leading the way with four.
The Blue Devils improve to 14-0 when leading after six innings this season with the win on Saturday.

QUOTES

"We were really good and tough this afternoon. We talk about playing a nameless, faceless opponent, and not being concerned with who the opponent is. Just go out there and be the best version of yourself. I challenged our team today, amidst some of the adversity we have had to face over the last 24 hours, to be the toughest version of ourselves. In the first inning we were on our heels a little bit and I told them my dad used to say, 'Bow your neck' and I thought we did that." – Head coach Chris Pollard on the job the pitching staff did on Saturday.
"The job that Mooney had the last few days. Tough at bats last night and tough at bats through the first half of the ballgame. The one through five in the order was 0-for-15 last night and to have the production we had from them was great. Storm takes a pitch with runners at second and third and I challenged him a little bit. He answered the call and gave us great at bats and defensive plays over the second half of the ballgame." – On the toughness of the squad heading into the later innings.

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