Duke baseball falls to 0-4 after weekend losses to Gonzaga, seventh-ranked Oregon State

<p>Jack Labosky had a few nice moments on the mound and at the plate this weekend, but the Blue Devils could not string together enough hits to get their first win of the year.&nbsp;</p>

Jack Labosky had a few nice moments on the mound and at the plate this weekend, but the Blue Devils could not string together enough hits to get their first win of the year. 

After dropping their first two matchups of the season Friday, the Blue Devils entered the final weekend of their trip to Arizona looking for revenge and the team’s first victory of 2017.

But starting pitching and inconsistent production from the lineup continued to plague Duke, which will return to Durham reeling and still searching for its first win.

Following losses to Gonzaga and No. 7 Oregon State Friday, The Blue Devils dropped a 4-1 decision to the Bulldogs Saturday before getting blown 11-2 by the Beavers Sunday at Surprise Stadium in Surprise, Ariz. Although Duke managed 10 hits against Gonzaga, it stranded eight men on base and finished the four-game weekend with just seven runs total despite returning its top hitters from last season.

“I think ultimately we will find our rhythm at the plate,” Blue Devil head coach Chris Pollard said. “We took our share of good swings on the weekend, we just didn’t string them together enough. There are plenty of positive takeaways from the last three days, but plenty we need to work on too.”

After the Bulldogs (2-2) got out to 3-0 lead after three RBI singles in the first two innings Saturday against Duke's Adam Laskey in his first career start, they were pretty much held in check the rest of the way. Junior Jack Labosky was terrific out of the bullpen for the Blue Devils, tossing three scoreless innings and allowing just two hits.

But despite finding some consistency on the mound, Duke (0-4) failed to get back into the game. Zack Kone continued his early-season offensive success and put the Blue Devils on the board with a solo home run in the top of the fourth, but it was not enough. Gonzaga starter Mac Lardner quieted the Duke bats, holding the Blue Devils to one run in six innings of play.

Although rough starts on the mound once again cost Duke, Pollard emphasized that he is proud of his starters for embracing new roles. Laskey and Ryan Day, who like the team's other starters is transitioning from a bullpen role, combined for five earned runs in nine innings in their two weekend starts.

“Those guys are going to be just fine,” Pollard said. “We knew going in that there needed to be a lot of patience and we’re staying patient with these guys. Their stuff was very good and both of them are going to get more comfortable.”

Day struggled early Sunday against Oregon State (3-0). After Duke took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first on a RBI single by Labosky, the Beavers stormed back with three RBI singles of their own in the bottom of the first inning and one in the second. However, Day settled in after that, pitching three scoreless frames before being removed in the sixth after allowing another run.

Unfortunately for the Blue Devils, their bats were held in check offensively for the third straight day. Oregon State starter Sam Tweedt allowed a single run in six frames and Duke was held without a hit from the second through the sixth innings. The Blue Devils fell behind 10-1 after the Beavers teed off on freshman Matt Mervis for another five runs in the seventh, putting the game out of reach.

“Playing 36 innings in less than 72 hours is a tall ask when you’re breaking in new starters and not extending those guys past 80 pitches,” Pollard said. "Our guys need to get their feet back underneath them and they’ll do that.”

Duke will search for its first win when it plays at N.C. Central Tuesday at Durham Athletic Park at 4 p.m. Following that game, the Blue Devils will host Army Friday through Sunday at the Durham Bulls Athletic Park as they try to rebound from a disappointing opening weekend.


Michael Model

Digital Strategy Director for Vol. 115, Michael was previously Sports Editor for Vol. 114 and Assistant Blue Zone Editor for Vol. 113.  Michael is a senior majoring in Statistical Science and is interested in data analytics and using data to make insights.

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