Box Score DURHAM, N.C. – The Duke Blue Devils were able to take advantage of some late-inning miscues by the UNCG Spartans defense on Tuesday evening at Jack Coombs Field on Duke University's campus, earning a 7-4 victory. The Spartans fall to 23-7 on the season, while Duke improves to 15-14 on the year. UNCG scored four runs in the top of the fifth inning, before allowing seven unanswered to the Blue Devils.
The Spartan offense managed just nine hits in the contest, only the ninth time all season the Spartan offense hasn't earned 10 hits. Ben Spitznagel (Cincinnati, Ohio/Wabash Valley CC) led the way with three hits on the day, including a pair of infield hits, and a run scored. Ryne Sigmon (Danville, Va./Danville) earned the other multi-hit game, going 2-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored.
Andrew Moritz (Charlotte, N.C./Providence) extended his reached-base streak to 26 straight games after going 1-for-5. L.J. Kalawaia (Wailuku, Hawai'i/Ohlone College), Collin Woody (Tampa, Fla./College of Central Florida) and Dillon Stewart (Dunn, N.C./Brunswick CC) all added a hit in the game, with Kalawaia and Woody scoring runs.
Jake Lewis (Wendell, N.C./Corinth Holders) got the start and went a career-long 4.2 innings, allowing six hits, two earned runs and striking out three. Easton Welch (Randleman, N.C./Randleman) worked 0.1 innings after Lewis, giving up a run on one hit and walking one batter.
Ben Kerner (Cary, N.C./Brunswick CC), Chad Sykes (Creedmoor, N.C./Voyager Academy) and Woody worked an inning each in relief. Sykes (2-2) suffered the loss, surrendering a pair of unearned runs.
UNCG broke open a scoreless game in the top of the fifth inning. The Spartans used three walks, two singles and an error to plate four runs. Spitznagel started the inning with a single and the bases were loaded after Woody and Kalawaia drew walks. A wild pitch brought in Spitznagel before a sacrifice fly from Stewart scored Kalawaia. Woody scored after Sigmon lined a hit to left field just out of the reach of the third baseman. Sigmon was then able to steal second base after being picked off and an errant throw allowed him to take third. A passed ball brought him in and gave the Spartans the 4-0 lead.
Duke cut into the lead in the bottom of the fifth frame. With a runner on, Chris Proctor hit an RBI single before a walk and a hit batter loaded the bases. Justin Bellinger ripped a double to bring in two more and cut the lead to 4-3 Spartans.
The Blue Devils took a 5-4 lead in the bottom of the seventh inning. Duke took advantage of two walks and an error before a Peter Zyla single tied the game at four. Duke earned a bases loaded walk to take the lead 5-4 after seven innings.
Duke tacked on a pair of insurance runs in the bottom of the eighth inning. After a leadoff double, a sacrifice bunt moved Jimmy Herron to third before a single from Max Miller drove him in to give Duke a 6-4 lead. Bellinger connected for a hit through the right side to push the lead to 7-4.
UNCG returns to action on Friday, April 8th, at 4:00 p.m. against The Citadel in Charleston, S.C. for the first road Southern Conference series of the season.
-UNCG-
