The Blue Devils started off this weekend's series against Maryland exactly as they could have hoped, using a masterful pitching performance by right-handed starter Jeff Alleva to capture a 3-2 victory over the Terrapins in what was their first ACC win of the season. Unfortunately for Duke (15-28, 1-16 in the ACC), the next two games did not produce the same results.
In the rubber game Sunday, an eight-inning pitchers' dual turned into a runaway 8-1 victory for the Terrapins as Maryland drove in eight runs off five different pitchers in the top of the ninth. Duke junior starter Kevin Thompson, who hurled a shutout against the Terrapins two years ago, had stymied Maryland hitters the entire game. In the ninth, however, he failed to retire a batter as the Terrapins (16-26, 4-13) pestered their way on base.
First, there was the bloop single to left that Thompson allowed to Maryland shortstop Joe Sargent, followed by a walk to third baseman Mike Constantino. Then came a bunt single off the bat of rightfielder Anthony Buffone to load the bases. Blue Devils head coach Ron Hillier then pulled Thompson from the game after the right hander walked in the tying run. Thompson's replacement, righthander Drew Jerdan, provide ed little relief, as he plunked the first batter he faced to let in a run. Maryland's Justin Maxwell then rocketed a Jerdan fastball into the right-center gap for a double, which gave the Terrapins a commanding 5-1 lead they would not relinquish.
"I had two strikes on me and I was just trying to keep my swing short," Maxwell said. "[Jerdan] left one over the middle of the plate and I was able to put the ball in the gap."
Things looked good for Duke in the inning before its disastrous ninth, having broken a scoreless tie in the bottom of the eighth.
"This was a tough one," Thompson said. "It was my game to lose and unfortunately I couldn't finish it off the way I had hoped. It's just frustrating."
In the middle game of the series, Duke fell to the Terrapins 3-1 in a contest that had to be split up over two days due to the thunderstorms that hit the Durham area Saturday. In addition to the Blue Devils losing, Duke rightfielder Brian Patrick had his career high 18-game hitting streak snapped.
Not all was negative for the Blue Devils this weekend, as they did get sensational starting pitching all weekend long, headlined by Alleva's effort in the first game. A senior from Durham, Alleva kept the Terrapins off balance throughout the game. He allowed two runs on eight hits through eight plus innings of work, while tallying six strikeouts.
"I was really proud of the way I threw," Alleva said. "I had been winning a lot prior to ACC competition, but I've run into some trouble since league play's started. Today I really had good stuff."
Duke scored all three of its runs in the sixth inning, when Patrick and Layden hit back-to-back run-scoring doubles. When Hillier was asked about his team's play, he responded by saying that the offense had to continue to work hard, and he remained positive about the team's future.
"I'm not using academics as an excuse, but the kids have a lot on their mind with finals and everything," he said. "We start playing better when we don't have a lot on our minds and can just think about baseball."
Get The Chronicle straight to your inbox
Signup for our weekly newsletter. Cancel at any time.