The Duke baseball team lost their season finale to visiting NC State on Saturday afternoon. The 9-1 loss came in a three-game sweep.

The Wolfpack scored four runs in the top of the first and pounded out 15 in the game. Four players had multi-hit games, including Bryan Adametz, who went 3-for-5 with four RBIs (two coming in the first).

The Blue Devils scored their lone run in the eighth on Andy Perez’ RBI single (one of his three hits). He finished the season as Duke’s top hitter at .316. He also stole his team-leading 18th base in the loss.

Drew Van Orden and James Marvel combined to pitch five scoreless innings of relief.

The Blue Devils season has come to a close on a low note. The ACC Tournament begins this week at Durham Bulls Athletic Park. I’ll have more on the eight teams who qualified and the matchups on Monday.

The Duke baseball team could not hold a lead to visiting NC State and lost in ten innings, 7-6. The Blue Devils led 6-5 heading into the top of the 8th inning when Logan Ratledge delivered a two out RBI single. They actually led 4-0 and then 6-3.

The Wolfpack scored the go ahead run on an Andrew Istler wild pitch in the tenth (he lost his sixth game of the season). The Blue Devils had the tying run on second base with one out, but Chris Marconcini fouled out to end the game off new pitcher Grant Sasser.

Duke got to Preseason All-American (and last season’s ACC Pitcher of the Year) Carlos Rodon, but he still pitched nine innings. He allowed six runs (four earned) on six hits and three walks while striking out 15.

They loaded the bases in the second inning with three straight singles, but could not push a run across. Duke scored four runs in the 3rd inning off Rodon, capped by Jordan Betts’ two-run double. The other two runs scored on wild pitches. They scored their final two runs in the 5th inning without a hit. One scored on a fielder’s choice, the other on Marconcini‘s sac fly.

From there, Rodon retired the side in order over his final four innings of work. In that timespan, he struck out eight.

Blue Devils starter Trent Swart allowed six runs (five earned) on eight hits and two walks over 7.1 innings. He struck out four. Istler entered in the 8th inning and allowed the go ahead run to score.

On offense for Duke, Andy Perez and Betts collected two hits each. Perez scored three runs while Betts drove in three.

The two teams finish out the series later this afternoon. It will be Duke’s final game of the season.

The Duke baseball team lost to visiting NC State on Thursday night, 5-2. The Wolfpack scored three runs with two outs in the first inning. They are just percentage points behind the tie atop the Atlantic Division.

The Blue Devils had at least one base runner in every inning, but went just 1-for-11 with runners in scoring position. They struck out at least seven times with men in scoring position, according to Duke head coach Chris Pollard.

Jeff Kremer went 3-for-4.

Robert Huber took the loss, as he allowed four runs on seven hits and three walks over just three innings. Nick Hendrix was solid in relief, as he allowed one run on five hits and a walk over 3.1 innings. Sarkis Ohanian finished out the game with 2.2 scoreless innings.

The two teams continue their series tonight.

*With Thursday’s games, the top eight teams have clinched spots in the upcoming ACC Tournament. However, it has gotten interesting near the top.

Virginia beat top seed North Carolina, moving them a win from a tie at the top (with two more games to go). Clemson beat FSU to create a tie atop the Atlantic Division (with two more to go). Miami beat Georgia Tech, bringing them a game away from pulling out of the final spot.

With the loss in Sunday’s finale, the Duke baseball team was swept by Virginia. They lost the finale, 14-6.

Duke actually led 3-0 early, but the Cavaliers just kept putting runs on the board. The Blue Devils cut the deficit to one twice, but a five run 7th inning put the game away. They also scored five runs in the second.

The Blue Devils still just have nine ACC wins, which will not be enough to qualify for the conference tournament with just one weekend left of baseball.

Duke collected 15 hits, but so did UVA. Chris Marconcini went 3-for-4 with a walk. In the weekend series, he hit .559 with three walks and three runs scored. Grant McCabe, Jeff Kremer, Jordan Betts, and Reed Anthes each collected two hits. McCabe drove in two and Betts scored two runs.

Robert Huber took the loss, as he allowed five runs in just 1.1 innings. He got the start. Nick Hendrix was solid in his 4.1 relief innings. He allowed two runs on five hits.

Next up, the Blue Devils travel to UNC Greensboro on Tuesday night.

The Duke baseball team was blown out in the second game of their series at Virginia. The Blue Devils lost 17-8.

The Cavaliers registered a season-high 22 hits (including six for extra bases) and scored 13 runs combined across the third and fourth innings. All of their runs scored in the 3rd inning came with two outs. In the 4th inning, they sent 12 men to the plate in scoring eight runs. Five of their hitters picked up at least three hits.

Duke had a five-run fifth inning, but that only cut the deficit to 15-6.

Chris Marconini went 2-for-2 with two walks and one of Duke’s RBIs. Andrew Istler also drove in a run with a sac fly in his first plate appearance since March 10th. That tied the game at 1-1 in the second.

Michael Matuella took the loss, as he allowed seven runs (six earned) on ten hits over just 2.2 innings in his first ACC start.

The two teams finish the series this afternoon.

On Sunday, all hopes of qualifying for the ACC Tournament came crashing down for the Duke baseball team. They lost 4-1 to visiting Maryland, while also losing the series.

Duke made mistakes, both on the bases and in the field, that cost them the game (and the series).

The Blue Devils lost despite a solid start from Robert Huber. Over eight innings, he allowed six hits while striking out six. He allowed three runs, two earned. He retired the first ten batters he faced and did not allow a hit until the fourth. Huber retired the side in order in four of the first five innings.

Kenny Koplove gave Duke it’s first lead, 1-0 in the 5th inning, with an RBI single (his 18th of the season).

However, the Terps came right back in the sixth with two runs. The second run scored on a bloop hit that fell in between the shortstop and centerfielder. Problem is, the runner scored from first base. They scored one more in the seventh (on a passed ball) and another in the ninth (one a wild pitch).

Out of Duke’s five hits, two went for doubles (by Chris Marconcini and Grant McCabe).

Maryland starter Jake Stinnett pitched his first complete game of the season. He allowed an unearned run on five hits and one walk while striking out four. He did not allow a hit after the 6th inning.

The Blue Devils now have the week off (it is exam week) before heading to Liberty on Sunday. It will be the first of six straight road games.

*If Duke had swept the Terps, they would have moved into a tie with Miami (and Virginia Tech) for the final two spots in the tourney. The Hurricanes lost two of three up at Boston College, giving the Eagles their first two conference victories. Oh how the mighty have fallen.

The Duke baseball team was repeatedly down by two or three runs, but came back each time to beat visiting Maryland, 11-9.

They put up a five-spot in the 4th inning on just three hits. Andy Perez had the big hit, a bases clearing triple. That inning tied the game at 7-7.

The Blue Devils were down 9-8 heading into the bottom of the 8th inning and put together five straight hits with two outs. Chris Marconcini started the rally with the first hit of the eighth. Grant McCabe, Mark Lumpa, and Kenny Koplove each drove in a run that inning.

Andrew Istler retired the first two batters in the 9th inning, before a walk and a double put the tying runs in scoring position. He fought back to get a ground out to end the game and record his third win of the season.

Sarkis Ohanian was key to the Blue Devils win, as he threw two scoreless innings of relief after Maryland had put up nine runs (seven over the first three innings).

Marconcini and Koplove each picked up three hits. Perez went 2-for-5 with a homerun and four RBIs. McCabe and Lumpa also collected two hits each.

The two teams complete the series on Sunday afternoon.

*Duke improved to 9-13, but are still in last place in the Coastal Division. Maryland dropped to 7-16.

A wild pitch by Duke starter Trent Swart with two outs in the top of the 8th inning decided the Blue Devils ACC series opener on Friday against Maryland, as they lost 1-0.

Trent Swart via Marc Kirsch

With one out, Jordan Hagel doubled. He moved to third base on a ground and out and scored on a wild pitch. The Terps had a chance to score some insurance runs in the ninth, but they had a runner thrown out at the plate on an infield fielder’s choice ground out.

The Blue Devils had the tying run on second base with two outs in the bottom of the ninth, but Aaron Cohn flied out to end the game.

Swart allowed one run on five hits and three walks over eight innings. He struck out nine and threw 121 pitches.

For the Terps, Jimmy Reed improved to 5-3, as he pitched a complete game shutout. Over nine innings, he allowed five hits and two walks while striking out four. In comparison, he only threw 98 pitches.

Of Duke’s five hits, all were singles. Meanwhile for Maryland, four of their six hits were doubles.

The two teams continue their series today.

*Duke dropped to 8-13 in the conference and are still in last place in the Coastal Division. Maryland improved to 7-15 in the conference. The Blue Devils still have the fourth worst record in the ACC, meaning they still have a ton of work to do to qualify for the conference tournament. As of right now, they are NOT in.

The Duke women’s lacrosse team lost to Virginia in the ACC Quarterfinals by a score of 10-7. The Blue Devils were the fourth seed. The Cavaliers advanced to Friday’s semifinals to face top ranked Maryland. It was UVA’s first win in the conference.

The Blue Devils dropped to 11-5 on the season and 2-3 in the ACC, despite three goals each from Makenzie Hommel and Kelci Smesko. It was Hommel‘s ninth hat trick of the season.

Both teams had 22 shots and 14 turnovers.

Duke plays their regular season finale on Sunday against Boston University where they will honor their seniors.

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The women’s tennis team lost in the opening round of the ACC Championship to 11th seed Virginia Tech, 4-3. The Blue Devils were trying for their 18th conference championship.

They got off to slow starts in all of their matches, which allowed the Hokies to keep believing.

They will be back on the courts when the NCAA Tournament begins May 10-11.

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Despite the fact that the Duke men’s basketball season has been over for a few weeks, there has still been a lot going on with the team and its players.

*Here is the update on the injury front:

Three players had successful surgery, though only one will be back to play next season. Seth Curry will hopefully be playing in the NBA next season with two healthy legs (unlike his final season at Duke and he still had a successful season). That surgery took place last Monday. Ryan Kelly had surgery on his foot about two weeks ago. Apparently, he was never fully healthy, despite coming back to play late in the season. And who can forget his memorable return against Miami. He said that he shouldn’t have any more problems with the foot in the future. Kelly is once again back in a boot and on crutches.

The current Blue Devil to have surgery is Marshall Plumlee, who has been hampered over the past two seasons with a left foot injury. He will once again be out 12-16 weeks to recover. That means, not alot of offseason working out for the youngest Plumlee. He injured the foot at the end of the preseason and missed the team’s first nine games. It hampered him all season. Duke has yet to see a healthy Plumlee and see what he is truly capable of.

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Quite a few Duke players participated in the ACC Barnstorming Tour, which visiting Kelly‘s high school (Ravenscroft). Players from Duke, North Carolina, NC State, and Wake Forest participated in the event, with Kelly and Curry watching from the bench. The college stars played against the Ravenscroft High School alumni. Mason Plumlee started alongside UNC’s Dexter Strickland, NC State’s Scott Wood and Jay Lewis, and Wake Forest’s CJ Harris. Quinn Cook and Alex Murphy came off the bench, as did Duke alum Nolan Smith. TJ Warren of NC State and Tarheel alums Reggie Bullock and Phil Ford also came off the bench. The ACC stars won 128-86. Players like Wood and Mason were selling off some of their game worn stuff, now that they are no longer held back by NCAA amateurism rules.

On a side note, Kelly‘s younger brother Sean (who is a Duke manager) beat Wood in a halftime three-point contest.

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» Continue reading “Duke Men’s Basketball News and Notes”