In a tough matchup at Jack Coombs Field, Duke baseball found themselves in a challenging spot early on, ultimately falling 9-0 to Miami. The Blue Devils, now sitting at 14-7 overall and 2-3 in ACC play, had to lean heavily on their bullpen after starter Matthew Nochowitz exited in the first inning due to an arm injury. The bullpen stepped up, providing 8.1 innings of relief, but the damage had already been done.
Miami's Rob Evans took control on the mound, delivering 6.2 solid innings while allowing four walks and striking out five. Nochowitz, unfortunately, was tagged with his first loss of the season after being forced out early.
Game Breakdown
The Hurricanes wasted no time getting on the board. Nochowitz allowed two runs before leaving the game, and Miami quickly capitalized, adding a third run with an RBI single to end the opening inning with a 3-0 lead.
In the second inning, Miami extended their advantage with four more runs, pushing the score to 7-0. Duke's defense managed to halt the momentum briefly with a well-executed 4-6-3 double play in the third, but not before another RBI single made it 8-0.
Duke's Michael DiMartini showed some spark, leading off the bottom of the third with a double and stealing third base. Tyler Albright drew his second walk of the day, but Miami's defense thwarted Duke's scoring chance with a double play.
The Blue Devils' defense continued to flash leather, turning another double play in the fourth inning-marking their fourth of the series so far. Both teams settled into a rhythm over the next couple of innings, with neither side able to break through.
Duke threatened again in the seventh, placing runners in scoring position, but they couldn't convert, leaving them scoreless. Miami capped off their dominant performance with a home run in the ninth, sealing their 9-0 victory.
Looking Ahead
Duke will aim to regroup and bounce back as they continue their series against Miami. The Blue Devils will need to tighten up both offensively and defensively to turn the tide in their favor. Keep an eye on their social media channels for updates and insights as the series progresses.