Duke Drops Saturday Contest to Louisville, 9-4

Saturday, April 4

Durham, N.C.

12 p.m.

Duke University

21-13, 7-8

Louisville

19-13, 5-7

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Louisville	0	0	3	4	1	1	0	0	0	9	9	1
Duke	0	1	1	1	0	1	0	0	0	4	13	0

Duke Drops Saturday Contest to Louisville, 9-4

4/4/2026 4:25:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

DURHAM, N.C. - After winning the first two games of the weekend series, Duke was unable to cap off the sweep, falling to Louisville, 9-4, at Jack Coombs Field. The Blue Devils (21-13, 7-8 ACC) took an early lead but the Cardinals (19-13, 5-7 ACC) utilized the long ball to take control of the contest in the middle innings.

Four different Blue Devils drove in a run, while Michael DiMartini led the lineup overall with a 3-for-4 day at the plate.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Andy Leon started the day on the mound and quickly got two outs, before working around a hit batter with his second strikeout of the frame to end the top of the first. RJ Hamilton doubled with one out in the home half, but the Blue Devils were unable to bring home the game's first run in the first inning.
The Blue Devils did crack the scoreboard in the next frame, with Brooks Perez bouncing a a double down the right-field line, scoring Coltin Quagliano from third base.
Leon retired two of the first three batters he faced in the top of the third, but Louisville knotted the score with an RBI single to right and the next batter followed with a two-run home run, pushing the Cardinals in front, 3-1.
Adin Zorn halved Duke's deficit in the home half of the third, pushing a single through the right side of the infield and bringing Kaden Smith across the plate from second base.
The Cardinals loaded the bases with one out in the top of the fourth, prompting Aiden O'Connell from the bullpen. The reliever got the second out, with a fielder's choice that scored a run, before a three-run homer cleared the bases and pushed Louisville in front, 7-2.
Duke again responded in the bottom of the fourth, as Tyler Albright singled to right field, bringing DiMartini home.
The Cardinals scratched a run across in each of the next two innings, making it a 9-3 lead for the visitors. Hamilton tallied a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the sixth, giving Duke its fourth run of the afternoon.
Only one base runner reached third base for the remainder of the contest, as both bullpens kept the final three innings scoreless.

UP NEXT

Duke hits the road for its next non-conference affair, traveling to East Carolina Tuesday, April 7.
The Blue Devils and Pirates (20-12-1) are scheduled for a 6 p.m. first pitch and streaming will be available on ESPN+.

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

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