In Durham, North Carolina, the Miami Hurricanes managed to overcome a four-run deficit, only to be bested by the ninth-ranked Duke Blue Devils in the end. Despite Miami’s efforts to rally late in the game, Duke secured a narrow 5-4 victory on Saturday afternoon at Jack Coombs Field.
Charlie Beilenson, a seasoned pitcher for Duke, showcased his skill by shutting down the Hurricanes’ offense in the final 2.1 innings, solidifying the Blue Devils’ triumph. Miami’s head coach, J.D. Arteaga, noted that their offensive performance lacked consistency, particularly in making necessary adjustments during two-strike situations. Despite moments of improvement, they struggled to maintain their approach when facing Duke’s closer.
Duke took an early lead, scoring four runs in the first four innings against Miami’s left-handed pitcher, Rafe Schlesinger. However, the Hurricanes mounted a comeback, sparked by Edgardo Villegas’ RBI single and Jason Torres’ run-scoring hit, narrowing the gap to two runs. In the seventh inning, Villegas contributed again with an RBI groundout, followed by a game-tying double from freshman Daniel Cuvet.
Yet, it was Duke’s Alex Stone who ultimately made the decisive play with a go-ahead single, securing the Blue Devils’ lead at 5-4. This lead held, thanks to Beilenson’s strong pitching performance. Miami’s Ben Chestnutt, who relieved Schlesinger, was charged with the loss.
Miami aims to salvage the series with a win on Sunday, with the first pitch scheduled for 1 p.m.