Duke Wins Fifth Straight, Downs Norfolk State in 10

Wednesday, May 11

Jack Coombs Field

12:00 PM

Duke University

Norfolk State

Duke Wins Fifth Straight, Downs Norfolk State in 10

5/11/2016 4:28:00 PM | Baseball

BASE vs. NORFOLK STATE: Herron Double BASE vs. NORFOLK STATE: Duke's 10th Inning Walkoff BASE vs. NORFOLK STATE: Pollard Interview BASE vs. NORFOLK STATE: Herron Interview Box Score (PDF)Box Score (HTML)Photo Gallery

By: Duke Sports Information

DURHAM, N.C. – Duke won its fifth straight contest, defeating Norfolk State, 4-3, in 10 innings Wednesday afternoon at Jack Coombs Field.

Down 3-1 in the ninth, Norfolk State (27-19) tied the game on Alex Mauricio's two-out, two-run double. Duke (29-20) loaded the bases with one out in the bottom of the 10 and sophomore Jack Labosky drew the walk to give Duke the win.

“You got to win them all different ways,” said head coach Chris Pollard. “That was a unique ballgame. First and foremost, a tremendous tip of the hat to Norfolk State, who came in here and battled their tails off for 10 innings.”

Labosky finished the afternoon 2-for-4 with two RBI, bringing his team-leading total to 41 runs driven in this season. Freshman Jimmy Herron posted a 3-for-5 outing with two doubles, two runs scored and an RBI, while sophomore Evan Dougherty was 2-for-3 with two runs scored.

Each of the first three Blue Devil batters reached base as Duke scored a run before an out was recorded in the bottom of the first. Herron's 16^th double of the year began the rally, followed by a Michael Smiciklas walk. Labosky lined an RBI base hit to center field for the contest's opening tally. Spartan starter Michael Parmentier battled back with a double play and a strikeout to minimize the damage.

The Labosky base knock was the last hit Parmentier allowed the rest of his outing. Parmentier went seven complete in the no decision, allowing the one run on two hits. He retired 16 straight prior to exiting the game after the seventh.

I was really impressed with Parmentier,” Pollard said. “He had the first three baserunners reach base. To settle in and pitch the ballgame, tremendous credit.”

Norfolk State tied the game, 1-1, without the benefit of a hit in the second. A hit batter, walk and fielding error loaded the bases before Kevin Granger lifted a sacrifice fly ball to center. Starter James Ziemba then struck out back-to-back batters to nullify the threat.

Ziemba went two innings in the planned split, allowing one run and no hits. He struck out three and walked three.

Sophomore Kevin Lewallyn, senior Nick Hendrix and sophomore Jack Labosky combined for six scoreless innings out of the bullpen. That trio scattered three hits, did not walk a batter and fanned 10. Overall, the Duke pitching staff matched its season high with 14 strikeouts.

“The job that they did from the second inning to the eighth inning is the story of the game,” Pollard added. “I'm incredibly impressed by the job by Lewallyn. Hendrix came in behind him after pitching yesterday. Jack comes in and has a really effective inning.”

The Duke bats came alive in the eighth against Spartan reliever Mauricio. Dougherty led off with a single and Miller laid down the sacrifice bunt. Herron slid his second double of the day inside the left field line, plating Dougherty. Herron stole his 22 base of the season and scored Duke's third run on a throwing error by the Norfolk State catcher.

Down to its final out, Norfolk State rallied to tie the game in the ninth. Justin Lee singled and Denathan Dukes was hit by a pitch to put two aboard. A wild pitcher advanced the runners before Mauricio lined a 2-2 pitch into the left center gap.

“To be down to your last strike about 10 times that last inning then tie the ballgame back up, you can see why they're the class of their league,” Pollard said. “They're a really well coached club. We had our hands full.”

Dougherty again began a rally with a leadoff single, sending the first pitch of his 10^th-inning at bat into left field. Herron singled and pinch hitter Griffin Conine walked to load the bases. Facing a 3-2 count, Labosky took ball four to seal the victory.

Sophomore Mitch Stallings (3-2) earned the win, pitching the final two innings. Chase Anderson (5-3) suffered the loss, allowing 1 run on two hits over 1.1 innings.

“I'm also proud of Mitch,” said Pollard. “It's not easy after you give up that hit to then get off the field two different times with the go-ahead run at second base.”

Duke concludes the non-conference portion of its schedule with a 19-6 mark outside league play. The Blue Devils have not dropped a non-conference game since an 8-6 setback March 22 against East Carolina, winning its final 10 non-ACC contests.

Next up, the Blue Devils host Florida State Friday-Sunday, May 13-15 at the Durham Bulls Athletic Park.

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