DURHAM, N.C. – In front of a sold-out crowd on Saturday afternoon, Duke baseball (41-19) defeated Murray State (42-15), 7-4, at Jack Coombs Field to take the first game of the Durham Super Regional. The attendance of 2,686 set a program record for a baseball game at Jack Coombs Field.
Sophomore Kyle Johnson led the way at the plate, replacing the suspended AJ Gracia, finishing with a new career high of four hits and was one shy of tying his career high with five RBI against the Racers.
Murray State opened the scoring on Saturday, notching a run in the top of the second and third innings. Johnson delivered a game-tying two-run home run in the bottom of the third inning, before junior Owen Proksch settled in on the mound and gave Duke 2.2 shutdown innings behind it.
In the bottom of the fourth inning, Johnson was clutch again, hitting a ground-rule double to left center field, scoring a pair of runners, before Jake Berger scampered home on a wild pitch, 5-2. The Blue Devils continued to add to the lead in the bottom of the sixth inning, as Johnson tallied his third extra base hit of the afternoon, doubling off the wall in centerfield to score Macon Winslow from second. Ben Rounds followed a few batters later with a double off the wall in right to score Johnson from third, 7-2.
The Racers threatened in the top of the seventh inning, scoring a pair of runs to cut into the lead, 7-4. Graduate Reid Easterly was called on in the seventh, working the final three frames, allowing two hits to collect his fifth save of the season.
| Site | Subscription Price | Supported Countries |
|---|---|---|
| FuboTV | 5-day free trial, $10–$90/month | USA, Canada, Spain |
| ESPN+ | $11.99/month | USA |
| Fanatiz | €6.99–€10.99/month | Worldwide |
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HOW IT HAPPENED
- Murray State opened the scoring in the top of the second inning, 1-0.
- The Racers added to their lead in the top of the third inning, 2-0.
- Duke tied the ballgame in the bottom of the third inning, as Kyle Johnson hit a two-run home run to center field, 2-2.
- In the bottom of the fourth, Johnson laced a double to left center field to score a pair. Jake Berger scored on a wild pitch, 5-2.
- The Blue Devils added to the lead in the bottom of the sixth, as Johnson doubled off the wall in center to score Macon Winslow from second. Ben Rounds doubled off the wall in right to score Johnson from third, 7-2.
- Murray State cut into the lead in the top of the seventh inning, 7-4.
| Site | Subscription Price | Supported Countries |
|---|---|---|
| FuboTV | 5-day free trial, $10–$90/month | USA, Canada, Spain |
| ESPN+ | $11.99/month | USA |
| Fanatiz | €6.99–€10.99/month | Worldwide |
| StreamLocator | 7-day free trial, no credit card required! $9.90/month | Worldwide |
| Site | Subscription Price | Supported Countries |
|---|---|---|
| FuboTV | 5-day free trial, $10–$90/month | USA, Canada, Spain |
| ESPN+ | $11.99/month | USA |
| Fanatiz | €6.99–€10.99/month | Worldwide |
| StreamLocator | 7-day free trial, no credit card required! $9.90/month | Worldwide |
NOTES
- Duke baseball hosted its first postseason game at Jack Coombs Field on Saturday, downing Murray State in game one of the Durham Super Regional, 7-4. The Blue Devils posted the largest attended baseball game at The Jack, featuring 2,686 fans.
- Sophomore Kyle Johnson started in center field for the suspended AJ Gracia. Johnson posted a career day at the plate, finishing 4-for-4 with two doubles and a two-run home run to center field. His home run was the fourth of the season and tied the ballgame in the bottom of the third inning.
- With the win on Saturday, Duke has officially broken the program record for wins at Jack Coombs Field, improving to 30-9 inside the friendly confines.
- Junior Owen Proksch started his first Super Regional game on Saturday, tossing 5.2 innings, allowing two runs on six hits. Proksch added seven strikeouts to his line and left the field to a standing ovation.
- Graduate Reid Easterly hurled the last three innings in relief for the Blue Devils on the mound, recording his fifth save of the season. Easterly allowed two hits and punched out a pair to lock down a late charge by Murray State.
UP NEXT
- Duke and Murray State continue the best-of-three series on Sunday afternoon from Jack Coombs Field. First pitch is scheduled for Noon.
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