In a game that took barely two and a half hours to play, Duke held Clemson to just four hits in a 5-1 win on Thursday at Doug Kingsmore Stadium. The loss is particularly damaging to the Tigers who are hoping to improve their postseason resume. Clemson is now 24-24 overall and 16-18 in ACC play.
“Give Duke credit, Jack Carey their starting pitcher did an outstanding job tonight,” Clemson head coach Monte Lee said after the game. “He was the difference in the ball game.”
Carey pitched seven innings of one run baseball, holding the Tigers to only four singles while striking out nine. As a matter of fact, Clemson did not have a base hit after the fourth inning against the combo of Carey (4-2) & Marcus Johnson, who worked two innings for his fifth save of the year.
Duke opened the scoring in the first inning on a wild pitch from Clemson starter Mack Anglin. Then in the second, the Blue Devils got the only other run they would need on a solo home run by Chris Crabtree. The senior from Bahama, North Carolina added another solo shot in the sixth inning to make it 3-1 Duke.
Clemson scored its only run of the contest in the fourth inning. Following lead-off singles from James Parker and Caden Grice, Blake Wright recorded a sacrifice fly to score Parker. Parker finished the game with two hits and in the process extended his hitting streak to ten games.
Duke sealed its sixth straight win in the top of the ninth inning as centerfielder Joey Loperfido blasted a two-run home run to left field.
“It’s the biggest game of the season no doubt about it,” Lee stressed about Friday’s rematch with the Blue Devils. First pitch at DKS is set for 6pm.
