DURHAM, N.C. - Florida State starter Peter Miller held Duke to one run on six hits in five innings of work and the 12th-ranked Seminoles defeated the Blue Devils 10-2 on Sunday afternoon at the Durham Bulls Athletic Park. Miller (3-0) had five strikeouts on the day.
Florida State (14-1, 3-0 ACC) took a 1-0 lead in the top of the second. First baseman Jayce Boyd drew a leadoff walk. Two batters later, shortstop Justin Gonzalez drove Boyd in with an RBI-double to left. The Seminoles would load the bases later in the inning with two outs. Third baseman Sherman Johnson then sent a groundball down the first base line that would have easily scored two runs had it gotten through. Duke first baseman
Matt Berezo made a nice play on the line at the edge of the infield dirt, fielding the ball and flipping it to pitcher
Robert Huber to end the inning.
Duke (7-11, 0-3 ACC) answered with a run of its own in the bottom half of the second to tie the game at 1-1. After third baseman
Jordan Betts drew a two-out walk, second baseman
Andy Perez singled through the left side. With two outs and a full count to shortstop
Angelo LaBruna, Betts and Perez both took off on the pitch and LaBruna lined an RBI-single to right to tie the game.
The Seminoles scored four times with two outs in the top of the third to take a 5-1 lead. Designated hitter John Nogowski had an RBI double and later scored on a balk. Left fielder Jose Brizuela then picked up his first hit of the series, an RBI-triple down the right field line. Catcher Stephen McGee capped the frame with an RBI-double off the left field wall.
Two Duke errors in the fifth led to three unearned runs for FSU as the Seminoles went ahead 8-1.
Three straight one-out singles by Betts, Perez and LaBruna in the sixth loaded the bases for the Blue Devils. Betts then scored on an RBI-groundout by catcher Make Rosenfeld, making it an 8-2 ballgame.
FSU added a pair of runs in the seventh to go ahead 10-2.
Perez finished 3-for-4 to pace the Blue Devils at the plate. LaBruna went 2-for-4 with an RBI and Betts was 2-for-3 with two runs scored. Rosenfeld had an RBI, while Berezo and designated hitter
Jeff Kremer both added a hit for Duke.
Huber (2-2) took the loss after allowing five runs on seven hits in four innings pitched. Sophomore
Mark Lumpa worked a scoreless eighth for Duke, while freshman
Garrett Hayward pitched a shutout ninth with one strikeout.
Duke's eight-game homestand will continue this week as the Blue Devils host Appalachian State on Tuesday at 3:15 p.m. at the Durham Bulls Athletic Park. Duke will then welcome Miami to town next weekend for a three-game series.
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