Duke Drops Norman Regional Opener to UConn

Friday, May 31

Norman, Okla.

1 p.m.

Duke University

39-19

UConn

33-23

UConn

Duke

Duke Drops Norman Regional Opener to UConn

5/31/2024 5:44:00 PM | Baseball

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

NORMAN, Okla. – Duke (39-19) baseball dropped its opening game of the 2024 Norman Regional on Friday afternoon to UConn (33-23), 4-1. Junior Ryan Higgins was pegged with the loss, as the Blue Devils left nine runners on base on Friday.

The Huskies opened in the scoring in the top of the first, before Andrew Healy silenced the threat. Chase Krewson threw out the possible second run of the inning, on a great tandem cutoff from left center field, keeping the score 1-0.

In the bottom of the first, AJ Gracia tied the ballgame with a single up the middle to score Zac Morris from second, 1-1. With two outs and two on base in the top of the sixth inning, UConn singled to center field to take the lead 3-1, before adding a solo home run to center field in the top of the ninth to extend their lead.

HOW IT HAPPENED

UConn opened the scoring in the top of the first inning, 1-0.
In the bottom of the first, AJ Gracia singled up the middle to score Zac Morris from second, 1-1.
The Huskies scored a pair in the top of the sixth, 3-1.
UConn added a run in the top of the ninth, 4-1.

NOTES

Sophomore Andrew Healy worked four innings to start the Norman Regional, allowing one run on four hits and puching out a pair.
Sophomore Gabriel Nard worked the final four innings for the Blue Devils to save the bullpen and keep Duke in the ballgame on Friday. He allowed one run on five hits and struck out two batters.
Graduate Zac Morris finished the day 2-for-4 with one run scored and a walk. It was the 23rd multi-hit contest of the season for the transfer from VMI.
Junior Wallace Clark began the 2024 Norman Regional with a 2-for-4 line on Friday. It was the 12th multi-hit contest of the season.

QUOTES

"First and foremost, UConn deservers a lot of credit. They played really well. They made some great plays defensively and after the first inning they pitched great. I thought we had Cooke on the ropes in the first. We had the RBI hit and then got two free bases, pushing his pitch count up to over 30. It is a credit to he and Quinn; they settled in and the next eight innings they didn't give us a free base the rest of the ballgame. They got the key two-out hit there in the sixth inning and that was the difference." – Head coach Chris Pollard on his overall thoughts on the Norman Regional opener.

UP NEXT

Duke awaits the loser of Oklahoma and Oral Roberts on Friday evening. The Blue Devils will face their first elimination game of the tournament on Saturday morning at 3 p.m. ET.

For more information on Duke Baseball, follow the Blue Devils on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram by searching "DukeBASE".

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