Six-Run Ninth Propels Duke Past Virginia

Saturday, May 9

Charlottesville, Va.

4:00 PM

Duke University

Virginia

Six-Run Ninth Propels Duke Past Virginia

5/9/2015 8:58:00 PM | Baseball

By: Duke Sports Information

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Trailing 7-3 heading to the ninth, Duke rallied for six runs in the final frame to upend Virginia, 9-7, Saturday afternoon at Davenport Field.

Duke (28-20, 8-17 ACC) totaled six of its season-high 16 hits in the ninth to upset Virginia (28-19, 11-15 ACC) in dramatic fashion. After a Kenny Koplove sacrifice fly tied the game, Justin Bellinger roped a two-run single through the rightside for what proved to be the game-winning hit.

Koplove then took the mound and pitched a perfect bottom of the ninth to secure his school single-season record 11^th save.

“It was a terrific win,” said head coach Chris Pollard. “I'm just very proud of our kids for continuing to battle. The at bats we strung together in the ninth were as good of at bats as we've had all year. It's a credit to our guys. They just never stopped fighting and it was really, really gratifying to see them get rewarded for that today.”

Freshman Ryan Day sparked the come-from-behind victory with a pinch-hit leadoff double in the final frame. After Virginia recorded the first out, the next five Blue Devils proceeded to reach base. Freshman Max Miller began the streak with his third single of the day. Peter Zyla and Mike Rosenfeld then contributed back-to-back doubles, cutting the margin to 7-6. Koplove added the game-tying sacrifice fly with the bases loaded, knotting the score at seven-all. With two outs, Bellinger drove his third hit of the day to right field, scoring two.

“I was a little bit upset with myself that I didn't pinch hit Day the inning before when we had first and second,” Pollard said. “It was a spark there in the ninth and our guys took it and ran with it. We put together a lot of good at bats behind him.”

Senior Andy Perez led a contingent of three Blue Devils with three hits. Perez doubled in each of his first two at bats and added a sixth-inning single. Both Miller and Bellinger contributed three hits as well to bolster the Duke offense.

“Miller and Bellinger had really tough nights last nights and both those guys bounced back today and had great ballgames,” Pollard added.

Freshman Jack Labosky (2-0) retired all four batters he faced in a scoreless end of the seventh and eighth. Redshirt senior Dillon Haviland pitched a career-high six innings in the no decision, yielding five runs on six hits.

The Cavaliers controlled the game through eight innings to establish the four-run margin. Virginia was able to capitalize on its chances with six of the Cavaliers' 13 hits coming with runners in scoring position.

Catcher Robbie Coman went 3-for-5 with two RBI for the Cavaliers, while Kenny Towns and Pavin Smith contributed two hits each and a combined four RBI.

After a low-scoring affair in the opener Friday night, the two teams combined for six runs over the first three innings Saturday. Duke kicked off the scoring with a run in the first. Perez laced the first of his two doubles to begin the contest. After reaching third on a Miller groundball the rightside, Perez scampered home on a Zyla ball that tipped off the pitcher's glove.

Perez delivered his second double at the culmination of a tremendous two-out at bat in the second inning. Perez's 14^th double of the year plated Justin Bellinger and Evan Dougherty, who both singled with two outs to keep the inning alive.

Virginia tied the game at 3-3 in the third on Coman's second two -out RBI single in as many at bats. The Cavaliers then regained the upper hand the following frame as Matt Thaiss roped a two-out, two-run double down the right field line to put UVa up, 5-3.

The Cavaliers registered four-straight two-out hits in the seventh to extend their lead to 7-3. Following a 3-6-3 double play, Kenny Towns doubled to ignite the rally. Three-straight singles from Smith, Coman and Joe McCarthy plated a pair of runs.

Duke was held scoreless from the second to the ninth before totaling six runs. Starter Brandon Waddell pitched seven innings in the no decision, allowing three runs on 10 hits. Reliever Alex Bettinger (3-3) suffered the loss after surrendering four run on three hits in the ninth.

The two teams reunite for the series finale Sunday, May 10 at 1 p.m. from Davenport Field.

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