Hurricanes Drop Series Opener to Blue Devils
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – The University of Miami baseball team (18-17, 4-9 ACC) dropped game one of the three-game series to the Duke Blue Devils, 13-3, Friday night at Mark Light Field. In the sixth inning, the Blue Devils (24-12, 9-7 ACC) took full advantage of Miami’s free passes – notching six runs off four hits as Miami.
Duke’s free passes came from six batters being hit by a pitch and nine walks issued by the Hurricanes.
Reid Easterly (4-1) earned the win for the Blue Devils (24-12, 9-7 ACC), tossing two hitless innings of relief. The left-hander entered in the fifth and worked around three walks while striking out two to keep Miami off the scoreboard and preserve Duke’s momentum.
Miami right-hander Griffin Hugus (4-4) was saddled with the loss for the Hurricanes (18-17, 4-9 ACC) after allowing five earned runs on six hits and three walks over 3 1/3 innings. The right-hander labored through 74 pitches before being lifted in the fourth with Miami trailing 5-2.
Duke started the series opener off hot – scoring four runs in the top of the first. Jake Hyde crafted an RBI single, Ben Rounds was hit by a pitch with bases loaded and Macon Winslow brought in two more Blue Devils with a single of his own.
Miami responded in the bottom of the third inning as Max Galvin delivered a solo shot to deep right-center field – his fourth of the year. Daniel Cuvet then brought in Todd Hudson with an RBI single to cut the Duke lead in half, 4-2, at the end of the third.
The Hurricanes and Blue Devils each registered a run in the fourth frame to move the score to 5-3, but two innings later, an implosion from the Hurricanes occurred.
Miami’s bullpen surrendered four runs on six hits, issued three hit-by-pitches, and committed an error as Duke extended its lead. Jake Hyde punctuated the inning with a grand slam, and Sam Harris followed with a solo home run to cap the Blue Devils’ offensive outburst.
Duke added two more insurance runs in the top of the ninth as they cruised their way to victory. Game two of the three-game series is slated to begin at 6 p.m. and will be broadcast on ACCNX.
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