DURHAM, N.C. – Duke baseball (41-20) fell to the Murray State Racers (43-15), 19-9 on Sunday, setting up a winner-takes-all championship game on Monday.Â
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Duke opened the scoring in the top of the first inning, asÂ
AJ Gracia andÂ
Ben Miller hit back-to-back home runs to ignite the crowd, 2-0. Murray State immediately responded with three runs in the bottom half, before extending the lead to 5-2 in the third.Â
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A solo home run byÂ
Wallace Clark in the top of the third cut into the deficit, before the Racers plated five runs in the bottom of the fourth, 10-3. The Blue Devils began a furious comeback in the sixth, asÂ
Ben Rounds doubled down the line in left to score a pair, before scoring himself on a wild pitch. After aÂ
Sam Harris walk in the frame,Â
Macon Winslow crushed a hanging breaking ball to left field to cut the lead to two.
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Junior left-handerÂ
Edward Hart tossed a much-needed shutdown inning for the Blue Devils in the sixth before Murray State went on to tack on nine runs in the bottom of the seventh and extended their lead.
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Tickets for game three on Monday will go on sale at 8 p.m.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Duke opened the scoring in the top of the first inning, as AJ Gracia hit a solo home run to right-center field. Ben Miller hit a solo home run to right-center field, 2-0.
- Murray State took the lead in the bottom of the first inning, 3-2.
- The Racers added to the lead in the bottom of the second inning, 5-2.
- In the top of the third inning, Wallace Clark hit a solo home run to right center field, 5-3.
- Murray State added to their lead in the bottom of the fourth inning, 10-3.
- In the top of the sixth inning, Ben Rounds doubled down the line in left to score a pair. Rounds scored on a wild pitch. Macon Winslow hit a two-run home run to left field, 10-8.
- The Racers added a run in the bottom of the seventh inning, 19-8.
- In the top of the eighth, Rounds hit a solo home run to left center field, 19-9.
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NOTESÂ
- Sophomore AJ Gracia returned from suspension on Sunday afternoon and made an immediate impact, crushing a solo home run to right center field in the first inning. Gracia finished the day 1-for-3, scoring two runs and drawing a pair of walks. With his 15th home run of the season, Gracia has now set a new career high for his time at Duke.
- Graduate Ben Miller collected a 2-for-4 day at the plate, blasting his 21st home run of the season, a solo shot to right center field in the top of the first inning. Miller is now second all-time in a single season, passing Nate Freiman (2009). Miller added a pair of runs scored, drew a walk, and recorded a RBI.Â
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UP NEXT
- Duke and Murray State will play a winner-take-all game on Monday. First pitch and TV designation are to be determined.
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