Miller's Home Run Lifts No. 12 Duke to 2-0 Victory Over Northwestern

Friday, February 23

Durham, N.C.

4 p.m.

Duke University

5-0

Northwestern

1-3

Northwestern

Duke

Miller's Home Run Lifts No. 12 Duke to 2-0 Victory Over Northwestern

2/23/2024 7:50:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)Postgame Notes (PDF)Photo Gallery

DURHAM – Junior left-hander Jonathan Santucci worked six innings of scoreless baseball, striking out 10 batters, as No. 12 Duke (5-0) defeated Northwestern (1-3) 2-0 on Friday night at Jack Coombs Field. Sophomore Owen Proksch worked two innings of one-hit baseball and tallied three strikeouts, while graduate Charlie Beilenson appeared in his team-leading fourth game and earned his fourth save of the season.

Graduate transfer Ben Miller completed his day at the plate 2-for-4 with a solo home run in the bottom of the first inning to put Duke on the board early. Junior Wallace Clark added the second run of the night in the bottom of the second, singling through the left side to score Devin Obee from second.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Graduate Ben Miller hit a solo home run to left field in the bottom of the first, 1-0.
In the bottom of the second, Wallace Clark singled to left field to score Devin Obee from second, 2-0.

NOTES

Senior catcher Alex Stone started his 100th game at Duke, earning the nod behind the plate on Friday.
Junior Wallace Clark appeared in his 100th career game and his fifth for the Blue Devils on Friday.
Graduate transfer Ben Miller hit his third home run of the season, a towering shot to left field in the bottom of the first inning. He finished the day 2-for-4, and the home run was the 17th for the Blue Devils this season.
Junior Jonathan Santucci worked six innings of five-hit baseball to earn his second win of the season, improving to 2-0. He punched out 10 Wildcats, one shy of his career high.
Graduate transfer Charlie Beilenson appeared in his fourth game this season, leading the team. He worked the final inning to earn his team leading fourth save of the season.

QUOTES

"It was a terrific ballgame from a standpoint of our pitching and our toughness. I thought Northwestern came out with a great gameplan. They were completely sold out to hit the fastball and took it away from Santucci, which when you are throwing 96-97 is really hard to do, but they did it and credit to them." – Head coach Chris Pollard on the toughness and competitive fight from the pitching staff.
"Credit their starter, Morr, there aren't many starters in college baseball or baseball in general that can do that. He can pitch below bat speed but can still speed you up and slow you down. He also can move you up and move you down. He was always able to get back into the zone and made it really difficult for us." – On Northwestern's starter commanding the zone and working a strong seven innings.

UP NEXT

The Blue Devils and the Wildcats square off for the second game of the series on Saturday afternoon. First pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m. from Jack Coombs Field.

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