DURHAM, N.C. - Facing its third ACC opponent of the year, UNCG baseball was unable to stay perfect against the conference this Tuesday, falling to Duke in the team's first midweek loss of 2021 by a final of 5-2. Third baseman Zack Budzik tallied his second home run of the year to drive in both of the Spartans' runs while first baseman Josh Madole went 2-for-4 while batting in the leadoff spot for the first time this year. 

The home team put up a run in the opening inning before the Spartans got their own offense going in the top half of the second. Following up a leadoff walk from Pres Cavenaugh, Budzik delivered his second home run of the year, just clearing the left field wall to put his team out in front 2-0. Budzik's long ball gives UNCG homers in each of their last two games, as the infielder becomes the fourth player on the Spartan roster to have multiple taters on the season. 

Duke wouldn't waste time retaking its lead however, hanging a pair of runs during the home half of the second. With starting righty Brendan Collins held to a pitch count this Tuesday, left-hander Price King came on in relief with two outs remaining in the third, providing a quality outing coming out of the pen. The southpaw from Wilmington tossed 2.2 IP, striking out two and gave up a single hit and one walk, with the Blue Devils' lone other baserunner coming on a catcher's interference call. 

Both sides went scoreless through the three ensuing innings before a Duke triple and a sac fly doubled the home team's lead at 4-2 in the sixth.

The Spartans created some offense in the top half of the eighth with Madole tallying his second knock of the contest on a single out to center and Corey Rosier extending his hitting streak to eight straight games on a double to left to start the frame. With a pair of runners in scoring position the Spartans would go down in order in the next three at bats however, as the side was unable to cut into the Duke lead. The night ended 5-2 in favor of the Blue Devils as UNCG now sits 1-2 against ACC opponents in 2021.

>>> In addition to his eight-game hitting streak, Rosier has reached first in 13 straight appearances, tallying two doubles and a home run in his last eight games
>>> Cavenaugh drew a pair of walks over the course of the contest, giving the redshirt-freshman a team-high 18 bases on balls this season. He has six walks over his last three games played alone
>>> The Spartans used six arms against Duke overall, with Jacob Curry and Brandon Stephens both tossing a shutout frame. King has allowed a single earned run over his past two relief appearances (8.1 IP), posting a 1.08 ERA during that time with a .96 WHIP

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