GREENSBORO, N.C. – Duke tallied six runs in the top of the sixth inning, five of which were unearned, and UNCG wasn't able to complete its comeback as the Spartans fell, 8-6, on Wednesday evening at the UNCG Baseball Stadium.
Eric Pfister picked up the win for Duke (18-14) as he went 5 1/3 innings and gave up just two runs on two hits, while striking out seven Spartans. Marcus Stroman came in to pitch a scoreless ninth inning to record his third save.
Jonathan Jones was credited with the loss after he gave up three runs, one earned, on just one hit in an inning of work.
Drew Gehringer led the Spartans (16-11) at the plate as he went 1-3 with two RBI and a run scored, while Thomas Troelstrup and Chris Barker each had a pair of hits and a run scored.
Marcus Stroman went 1-3 with a pair of RBI and run scored for Duke and Joe Pedevillano added two hits and two runs scored.
The Spartans were the first to get on the board as Kris Richards delivered a one-out single in the bottom of the third. Gehringer then belted a doubled to left center to score Richards from first. After a walk and hit by pitch loaded the bases, Zach Leach hit a sacrifice fly to deep left field to score Gehringer and put UNCG ahead, 2-0.
Duke came right back in the top of the fourth to cut the Spartan lead in half. Pedevillano led off with a single down the right field line before advancing to third on a single and fielder's choice. With runners on the corners, UNCG picked the runner off first, but Pedevillano broke for home at the same time and stole home successfully to make it 2-1.
The Blue Devils broke the game open with six runs in the top of the sixth to take a 7-2 lead. Duke took advantage of two UNCG errors, three walks and a wild pitch to score the six runs, five of them unearned, to take the lead.
UNCG tried to mount a rally late in the game as it cut the Duke lead down to 7-4 in the seventh inning. Barker led off with a double to right center and Eric Brindle followed with a walk. After Barker moved to third on a fly out, he was able to score on a wild pitch, while Brindle moved up to second. Brindle advanced to third on a single before later scoring on a balk.
The Spartans added another pair of runs in the eighth inning to make it a one-run game. Troelstrup hit a leadoff double and moved up to third on a fly out to right field. John Hein then hit a pinch-hit single to left field that scored Troelstrup. A single by Barker and a walk by Brindle loaded the bases for Gehringer who was hit by a pitch to score Hein. The Blue Devils were able to get out of the bases-loaded jam, though, as they got a pair of strikeouts to preserve their 7-6 lead.
Duke added another run in the ninth inning on a wild pitch to go ahead 8-6 and UNCG wasn't able to complete its comeback in the home half of the inning.
UNCG will return to Southern Conference competition this weekend as it hits the road to Davidson for a three-game series beginning on Friday at 7 p.m.
AGATE
Duke 8, UNCG 6
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Duke................ 000 106 001 - 8 8 0 (18-14)
UNCG................ 002 000 220 - 6 8 3 (16-11)
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Pitchers: Duke - Eric Pfisterer; Drew Van Orden(6); Mark Lumpa(7); Josh Ruffin(8); David Putman(8); Marcus Stroman(9) and Michael Rosenfeld. UNCG - Greg Smith; Dylan Hathcock(3); Jonathan Jones(5); Zach Furl(6); Jarett Miller(6); Tyler Hollstegge(8); Pete Schultz(9) and Cambric Moye; Zach Leach.
Win-Eric Pfisterer(2-2) Save-Marcus Stroman(3) Loss-Jonathan Jones(0-3) T-3:11 A-505
Weather: 64 and sunny; wind SSW 15 mph
Jones faced 3 batters in the 6th.
Ruffin, J. faced 2 batters in the 8th.
- UNCG -
