In an exciting doubleheader at Jack Coombs Field, Duke and Milwaukee split their four-game series on Saturday. The Blue Devils took the first game 10-8 in a seven-inning showdown, while the Panthers rallied to claim the second game 9-6 over nine innings.
Game One Recap:
Milwaukee jumped out to a fast start, building a 6-0 lead in the opening inning. This surge was highlighted by a grand slam from John Hadley and a pair of bases-loaded walks.
However, Duke wasn't about to roll over. Cider Canon sparked the comeback with a two-run homer in the bottom of the first.
RJ Hamilton kept the momentum going with a two-RBI double in the second, cutting the deficit to 6-4.
The third inning was where Duke truly flipped the script. Michael DiMartini launched a two-run homer, his first of the season, tying the game at 6-6.
Hamilton continued his stellar performance with another two-RBI single, giving Duke an 8-6 lead. Tyler Albright capped the inning with a two-run single, pushing the score to 10-6.
Milwaukee managed to add single runs in the fifth and sixth innings, but Duke's bullpen held firm. Matthew Nochowitz settled down after a rough start, and Marcello Mastroianni earned the win with solid relief work. Roman DiGiacomo closed it out, securing his first save of the season.
Game Two Recap:
The second game saw Milwaukee strike first with a Dominic Kibler homer in the third inning. Duke responded with Canon's two-run single, taking a 2-1 lead. The Panthers tied it up in the fourth and edged ahead 3-2 in the fifth with Max Glusick's RBI hit.
Duke rallied in the seventh, capitalizing on Panther errors to score three runs and reclaim a 5-3 advantage. Despite loading the bases, the Blue Devils couldn't extend the lead further.
Milwaukee roared back in the eighth, scoring four runs on a mix of hits, steals, and a Duke error, seizing a 7-5 lead. Charlie Marion's two-run single proved decisive. The Panthers added two insurance runs in the ninth, making it 9-5.
Duke managed one more run in the ninth, but Milwaukee's bullpen, led by Sotaro Ishida, held firm. Ishida earned the win, despite three unearned runs.
Looking Ahead:
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