Murray Plays Hero Again, Duke Takes Series From Pitt Friday

Friday, April 18

Durham, N.C.

6 p.m.

Duke University

27-14, 11-9

Pitt

18-18, 5-12

Pittsburgh

Duke

Murray Plays Hero Again, Duke Takes Series From Pitt Friday

4/18/2025 10:03:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)Postgame Notes (PDF)

DURHAM, N.C. – Sophomore Noah Murray was the hero once again for the Blue Devils on Friday evening at Jack Coombs Field, hitting a solo home run in the bottom of the eighth inning to give Duke (27-14, 11-9 ACC) a 6-5 lead heading into the top of the ninth inning over Pittsburgh (18-18, 5-12 ACC).

The Blue Devils opened the scoring in the bottom of the first inning, as Ben Miller grounded into a fielder's choice to score Wallace Clark from third, 1-0. The Panthers responded in the top of the second, scoring a pair of runs, before Henry Zatkowski relieved Kyle Johnson and got a double play ball to end a bases-loaded threat.

Murray began his evening with his first collegiate home run in the bottom of the third inning to tie the ballgame, one of his four hits on the night. Pitt once again answered in the top of the fourth inning, 3-2.

In the bottom of the fifth inning, Murray scored on a wild pitch to tie the game, before AJ Gracia punched a sacrifice fly to right field, giving Duke the lead. Jake Hyde laced a double into the gap in left to score Clark from third, 5-3.

Graduate Reid Easterly entered in the ballgame in the seventh and worked around some trouble in the top of the eighth. The Panthers would tie the ballgame off the southpaw, ending his streak of 20.1 innings without allowing an earned run to cross.

With two outs in the bottom of the eighth inning, Murray added to his storybook evening, crushing a 1-0 pitch to center field and giving Duke the lead, 6-5. Junior left-hander James Tallon worked the ninth inning, striking out the first two batters before a lazy flyout to center field gave the Arlington, Va., native his first save of 2025.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Duke opened the scoring in the bottom of the first inning, as Ben Miller grounded into a fielder's choice to score Wallace Clark from third, 1-0.
The Panthers responded in the top of the second inning, 2-1.
In the bottom of the third inning, Noah Murray hit a solo home run to left field, 2-2.
Pittsburgh responded in the top of the fourth inning, 3-2.
The Blue Devils regained the lead in the bottom of the fifth inning, as Murray scored on a wild pitch and AJ Gracia hit a sacrifice fly to right field. Jake Hyde laced a double into the gap in left center field to score Clark from third, 5-3.
Pitt tied the ballgame in the top of the eighth inning, 5-5.
In the bottom of the eighth inning, Murray hit a solo home run to center field, 6-5.

NOTES

Duke improved to 214-70 (.754) when scoring first and 236-52 (.819) when scoring three-plus runs in an inning since 2016.
Sophomore Noah Murray had a career day at the plate, recording a 4-for-4 day with a career-high in hits, runs scored (3), and RBI (2). Murray launched his first two career home runs on Friday, both solo home runs to left and center field. His second came in the bottom of the eighth inning and proved to be the game winner.
Junior James Tallon recorded his first save of the 2025 season, working the ninth inning and striking out two batters. He now moves into a tie for second all-time in saves with 13. He joins Thomas Girard (2018-19), Alex Hassan (2007-09), Vaughn Schill (1997-99), and Mark Sikorski (1984-86).
Graduate Reid Easterly had his streak of 20.1 innings of not allowing an earned run to come to a close on Friday evening, as the southpaw gave up two runs in the top of the eighth inning to tie the ballgame. Easterly recorded the win in relief, improving to 5-1 on the season.

QUOTES

"I thought it was a terrific job by Henry Zatkowski of coming on in the second inning and minimizing the damage when they had a chance to break the game open. To get Cantwell, one of the best hitters in our league, into a double play right there. We did a good job against two of their best arms of scratching and clawing. We weren't banging the ball all around the ballpark, but we did enough to move guys across the plate. I can't say enough good things about Noah Murray. Obviously, on paper, it doesn't make a lot of sense to take Sam Harris out of the lineup right now, the way he has been swinging it. We felt like Gardner was a tough matchup for Sam, the way he can really split the plate with arm-side run. When Noah had the two hits, we decided to ride him, and he put together two wonderful at-bats against Firoved. He has been one of the best arms in our league this year." – Head coach Chris Pollard on his overall thoughts on the ballgame tonight to secure the series win.
"It is cool. It's two guys who do things the right way. Even in times when they wanted to come in and get clarification about their role, or what can I be doing to have more opportunities, it's always been handled with a ton of professionalism. They have been hungry to get in there and have their opportunities, and both of those guys have done a great job of taking advantage of it." – On Sam Harris and Noah Murray being ready when they get their chances and making the most of the moment.