Virginia Outlasts Duke, 3-1

Friday, May 8

Charlottesville, Va.

8:00 PM

Duke University

Virginia

Virginia Outlasts Duke, 3-1

5/9/2015 12:36:00 AM | Baseball

By: Duke Sports Information

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Tied 1-1 heading to the bottom of the eighth, Virginia struck for two runs on two hits to capture a 3-1 victory over Duke Friday evening at Davenport Field.

Duke's Andrew Istler (5-4) and Virginia's Connor Jones went toe-to-toe for over seven innings before the Cavaliers came up with two key hits in the eighth. Neither offense was able to string together hits off the two right-handers. Back-to-back, two-out singles in the bottom of the fifth marked the only consecutive hits of the ballgame.

Virginia (28-18-, 11-14 ACC) ultimately came away with the win over Duke (27-20, 7-17 ACC) despite Istler's solid performance. Istler wound up with the loss after allowing three runs, two earned, on six hits over 7.1 innings. He struck out three and walked two in the contest.

Jones pitched seven innings in the no decision. He scattered five hits, struck out eight and walked six. Kevin Dougherty (3-1) earned the win after tossing a scoreless inning in relief, while Alec Bettinger kept the Blue Devils off the board in the ninth to secure his second save.

“I thought through seven and a half innings, it was a really, really good ballgame,” said head coach Chris Pollard. “Both teams played well and both teams made pitches to get off the field. We had a couple of opportunities offensively we would've liked to take advantage of. Virginia capitalized on a couple of our mistakes late in the game and that was the difference.”

Virginia started the scoring early with a lone run in the first. Center fielder Adam Haseley singled up the middle to lead things off then scored on a Kenny Towns two-out RBI base knock to put the Cavaliers up, 1-0.

The one-run advantage stood until the top of the fourth when the Blue Devils rallied for a run with two outs. Mike Rosenfeld walked following a double play and Cris Perez drove him in with an RBI double down the left field line. C. Perez now has a team-leading 28 RBI on the season.

Both teams had their chances over the middle innings, but both starting pitcher evaded further damage. Duke left the bases loaded in the fifth, while Virginia put two aboard in the fifth and the sixth.

Virginia scored the go ahead run in the bottom of the eighth, benefitting from a Duke defensive miscue. After Daniel Pinero reached on an error, Matt Thaiss drove an RBI double down the right field line. The Cavaliers added an insurance run a batter later on a Pavin Smith RBI single.

Senior Andy Perez and redshirt sophomore Jalen Phillips had two hits each to pace the Duke offense. Redshirt senior Mike Rosenfeld reached base in three of his four plate appearances, recording two walks and a single.

Both teams totaled seven hits on the night. Smith was the only Cavalier to notch two hits adding a single in the sixth to compliment his eighth-inning RBI base knock

Senior Andy Perez had two of the Blue Devils' seven hits to lead the Duke offense. Redshirt senior Mike Rosenfeld reached base in three of his four plate appearances, recording two walks and a single on the night.

The two teams reconvene at Davenport Field Saturday, May 9 for the second game of the series at 4 p.m. Duke's Dillon Haviland takes the mound against UVa's Brandon Waddell.

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