Proksch Spins a Gem, Duke Advances to Athens Regional Winner's Bracket

Friday, May 30

Athens, Ga.

6 p.m.

Duke University

38-19

Oklahoma State

28-24

Oklahoma State

Duke

Proksch Spins a Gem, Duke Advances to Athens Regional Winner's Bracket

5/31/2025 12:35:00 AM | Baseball

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

ATHENS, Ga. – Junior left-hander Owen Proksch tossed a gem on Friday night in Athens, Georgia, as Duke (38-19) defeated Oklahoma State (28-24), 12-5, to advance to the winner's bracket of the Athens Regional on Saturday evening.

With traffic on the bases in the top of the first inning, Proksch buckled down, striking out Colin Brueggemann to keep the game scoreless and let the Blue Devils go to work offensively. Duke broke the scoreless game in the bottom of the second inning, as Sam Harris laced a double off the wall in left to score a pair. Wallace Clark added to the lead with a single to right center field to score Harris, giving the Blue Devils a 3-0 advantage.

In the bottom of the third inning, Ben Miller led off the inning with a solo home run to left center field, the 100th of the season for the Blue Devils. Macon Winslow doubled to right center field to score Harris, before Jake Berger hit a two-run home run to left center field, 9-0.

The Cowboys cracked the scoreboard in the top of the fifth inning, hitting a solo home run off Proksch. In the bottom of the fifth inning, Duke did not allow Oklahoma State to have a shutdown inning on the mound, as Jake Hyde tripled to left field to clear the bases, 12-1.

Duke went to the bullpen in the seventh inning, as Gavin Brown tossed a scoreless frame, allowing one hit and escaping a bases-loaded jam. Graduate Reid Easterly worked the final 1.2 innings, striking out the side in the ninth to secure the victory.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Duke opened the scoring in the bottom of the second inning, as Sam Harris doubled off the wall in left field to score a pair. Wallace Clark singled to right center field to score Harris from second, 3-0.
In the bottom of the third inning, Ben Miller hit a solo home run to left center field. Tyler Albright hit a two-run home run to left field. Macon Winslow doubled to right center field to score Harris from second. Jake Berger hit a two-run home run to left center field, 9-0.
Oklahoma State cracked the scoreboard in the top of the fifth inning, 9-1.
In the bottom of the fifth inning, Jake Hyde tripled to left field to clear a bases-loaded situation, 12-1.
The Cowboys cut into the lead in the top of the sixth inning, 12-2.
Oklahoma State cut into the lead in the top of the eighth inning, 12-5.

NOTES

Duke earns its first win over Oklahoma State in the all-time series, improving to 1-2 in three meetings. The Blue Devils are now 1-1 in the postseason against the Cowboys.
With the win on Friday night, Duke improves to 5-1 in Athens, Georgia, in NCAA Tournament play. It is only the second time Duke has been to Athens in its postseason history.
Junior Owen Proksch made his first NCAA Tournament start on Friday night, tossing six innings of three-hit baseball on the mound. The southpaw allowed two solo home runs and punched out eight, hurling a career-high 111 pitches in the win.
Graduate Ben Miller's solo home run in the bottom of the third inning eclipsed the century mark for the Blue Devils in that department this season. It marks the third season that Duke has tallied 100-plus home runs, the first three in program history.
Duke batted around for the 17th time this season, scoring six runs in the bottom of the third inning to extend the lead to 9-0.
The Blue Devils improved to 56-1 when scoring 10-plus runs in a contest since 2023 and 20-0 when hitting that mark this season.
Senior Wallace Clark finished the day as one of two Blue Devils to register three hits against the Cowboys in Athens. Clark tallied a 3-for-5 line, scoring a run and collecting one RBI.