Blue Devils Take Series Against Wake Forest

Saturday, May 16

Durham, N.C. (Jack Coombs Field)

1:00 PM

Duke University

Wake Forest

Blue Devils Take Series Against Wake Forest

5/16/2015 5:39:00 PM | Baseball

By: Duke Sports Information

DURHAM, N.C. – Duke finished off the 2015 season with a series-clinching, 8-1 victory over Wake Forest Saturday afternoon at Jack Coombs Field.

Wake Forest (27-26, 12-18 ACC) entered the weekend with one of the ACC's top offenses, but Duke (31-22, 19-19 ACC) was able to outscore the Demon Deacons 16-4 over the three-game series.

Five Blue Devil pitchers – Bailey Clark, Jack Labosky, Sarkis Ohanian, Mitch Stallings and Kenny Koplove -- limited the Demon Deacons to one run on nine hits Saturday. Wake Forest went 0-for-12 with runners in scoring position, stranding 14 baserunners for the game.

Freshman Peter Zyla and redshirt sophomore Jalen Phillips combined for four of the Blue Devils' eight hits. Phillips blasted his fourth home run of the season to start the scoring in the second while Zyla contributed a double and a triple.

Following a scoreless opening frame, Phillips hammered a solo shot with one out in the bottom of the second. Up 1-0, Duke would never trail in the game.

“It was great to see Jalen go out with some momentum,” said head coach Chris Pollard. “This is a season he can build off of. He's quietly put up close to 20 extra base hits. He got off to a slow start but has now really gotten heated up and can carry this into next year.”

Phillips began a scoring rally in the fourth, belting a one-out double to become the first of fourth-straight Blue Devils to reach base. Junior Kenny Koplove followed with his seventh double of the year to drive in Phillips, extending the lead to 2-0. Freshman Justin Bellinger laced an RBI single on the first pitch of the at bat to make it a 3-0 Duke advantage.

Zyla's fourth triple of the season led off the fifth and the Duke right fielder crossed home on a Mike Rosenfeld RBI groundout, the first of two RBI on the day for Rosenfeld.

Wake Forest scored its only run of the game in the top of the seventh. Joey Rodriguez singled before Duke issued three walk to plate the run. Freshman Mitch Stallings was able to prevent further damage, striking out Justin Yurchak with the bases loaded to end the inning.

Duke counter with three runs of its own in the bottom half. Senior Andy Perez drew a leadoff walk, one of two free passes for Perez on the day. After Zyla was intentionally walked Rosenfeld came through with a two-run double to deep center field to plate the pair. Cris Perez finished off the frame with an RBI fielder's choice, giving Duke the 8-1 margin.

Clark (4-5) pitched 4.1 scoreless innings to pick up the win. Clark scattered seven hits, struck out two and walked one batter.

“I was proud of [Bailey],” Pollard said. “It was a tough start up at UVa. I told Bailey last night on the phone that he would be on a short start, but he just kept making good pitches.”

Wake Forest's John McCarren (0-3) suffered the loss after allowing a run on two hits over two innings.

Prior to the start of Saturday's series finale, Duke also honored 11 seniors in Reed Anthes, Dillon Haviland, Andrew Istler, Remy Janco, Grant McCabe, Cameron Neal, Sarkis Ohanian, Andy Perez, Mike Rosenfeld, Conner Stevens and Trent Swart.

“To look at where we were three years ago and look at where we are now, this group of guys take so much pride in laying a foundation for future success. Not only are they great players, they are great people and it's been a privilege to coach them.”

#GoDuke