No. 18 Cavalier Baseball Falls at Duke, 4-3
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April 7, 2006
Durham, N.C. – – Duke’s Adam Murray singled in the bottom of the ninth to score the winning run to lift the Blue Devils to a 4-3 win over No. 18 Virginia (25-9, 6-7 ACC) in game one of their Atlantic Coast Conference series at Jack Coombs Field. Brandon Marsh went 2-for-4 including the game-tying run in the top of the ninth while Greg Miclat finished 2-for-3 for the Cavaliers.
“It’s a shame that either team had to lose that game tonight. We knew they were throwing a good pitcher at us and we hung in there. We showed a lot of heart coming back and tying the game up when we were down to our final out,” UVa head baseball coach Brian O’Connor said. “We just have to bounce back and get ready to play tomorrow.”
Sean Doolittle started the game for UVa. He allowed three runs on seven hits in 5 1/3 innings and recorded eight strikeouts. Michael Schwimer (1-1) took the loss for the Cavaliers as he allowed one run on two hits in three innings and struck out four. Casey Lambert pitched the final inning and gave up one hit.
Danny Otero (5-2) tossed a complete game for the Blue Devils. Otero gave up three runs on nine hits and struck out four. Brett Bartles, Jonathan Anderson and Jonathan Nicolla each went 2-for-4 for Duke.
Marsh’s double to left center started a two-out rally for the Cavaliers in the top of the ninth. Doolittle doubled down the left field line to score Marsh tying the game, 3-3. Nicolla led off the bottom of the ninth with a single up the middle. He moved to second on a sacrifice bunt, before Murray delivered a one-out single for the game-winning run.
Bartles solo home run to right center gave the Blue Devils a 3-1 lead. Virginia came within 3-2 in the top of the sixth. Jeremy Farrell singled up the middle to score Tom Hagan.
Virginia loaded the bases in the top of seventh with one out after Miclat and Tim Henry singled. Doolittle was intentionally walked. Adams lined out to third base for the second out. Guyer then grounded out to third base to end the inning.
Duke took a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the fourth. Brett Bartles singled up the middle to lead off the inning. Nate Freiman’s bloop single down the right field line gave the Blue Devils two base runners with no outs. Jonathan Anderson singled to right field to score Bartles tying the game, 1-1. Duke’s second run of the inning came when Jonathan Nicolla singled up the middle to score Freiman.
Virginia started a two-out rally in the top of fourth when Adams doubled to right center and scored on Brandon Guyer’s RBI single through the left side putting the Hoos ahead, 1-0.
Virginia continues its series with Duke Saturday. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m. Freshman right-handed pitcher Jacob Thompson will start for the Cavaliers.