Duke Falls To Miami, 5-1, On Friday

Friday, May 18

Coral Gables, Fla.

7:00 PM

Duke University

Miami

Duke Falls To Miami, 5-1, On Friday

5/18/2007 12:00:00 AM | Baseball

By: Duke Sports Information

CORAL GABLES, Fla. ? Miami scored a run in each of the first three innings and added a pair of runs in the bottom of the seventh to back a solid outing by starter Eric Erickson on their way to a 5-1 win over Duke on Friday night at Mark Light Field. The Blue Devils fall to 29-24 on the season and 8-21 in the ACC while the Hurricanes improve to 34-20 and 16-13, respectively.

Miami took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first. Centerfielder Blake Tekotte led off the inning with a double to left before moving to third on a sacrifice bunt by second baseman Roger Tomas. First baseman Yonder Alonzo then sent a foul ball beyond the third base dugout where third baseman Brett Bartles made an outstanding catch against the wall before the ball sailed out of play. Tekotte tagged at third and the throw from Bartles was a little high, allowing Tekotte to slide in safely under catcher Matt Williams.

Duke tied the score at 1-1 in the top of the second. Bartles singled to short to begin the frame. Williams followed with a single to right, moving Bartles to third. Two batters later, shortstop Gabriel Saade reached on a fielder's choice that allowed Bartles to score.

Leftfielder Mark Sobolewski lined a one-out single down the left field line to get the Hurricanes going in the bottom of the second. Third baseman Gus Menendez followed with a single to center, advancing Sobolewski to third. Catcher Richard O'Brien then lifted a sacrifice fly to center to bring in Sobolewski, giving Miami a 2-1 lead.

The Hurricanes added a run in the bottom of the third to push their lead to 3-1. After Tekotte was hit by a pitch to start the inning, Tomas moved him to second with a sacrifice bunt. Alonzo then sent an RBI-single to right to score Tekotte.

Miami loaded the bases in the bottom of the fourth and threatened to add to its lead but Duke starter Tony Bajoczky struck out Tomas swinging to end the inning.

Rightfielder Dennis Raben drew a bases loaded walk in the bottom of the seventh to give the Canes a 4-1 advantage. Designated hitter Jemile Weeks then sent a grounder to second and second baseman Kyle Butler threw out Tomas at the plate to keep the score 4-1. Alonzo would then score on a wild pitch to make it a 5-1 ballgame.

Erickson improved to 9-3 on the season, holding the Blue Devils to one run on seven hits in 7.2 innings of work.

Bajoczky fell to 9-3 in his last collegiate start, allowing five runs on eight hits in six innings with three strikeouts. Freshman Michael Seander struck out three batters in two scoreless frames for Duke.

Rightfielder Jonathan Anderson led the Blue Devils at the plate, going 2-for-4 on the night. Bartles finished 1-for-3 with a run scored, leftfielder Alexander Hassan was 1-for-3 with a double and Williams, centerfielder Jimmy Gallagher and designated hitter Jonathan Nicolla all went 1-for-4. Saade drove in Duke's only run of the game.

The Blue Devils and Hurricanes will wrap up the series and the regular season tomorrow at 1 p.m.

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