Duke Takes Game 1 of Weekend Series, 8-5

Friday, February 24

Durham, N.C.

4 p.m.

Army West Point

1-4

Duke

2-4

Army West Point

Duke

Duke Takes Game 1 of Weekend Series, 8-5

February 24, 2017 | Baseball

Box Score

DURHAM, N.C. – The Army West Point baseball team dropped an 8-5 decision to ACC foe Duke here Friday afternoon.

The contest marked the teams' opening meeting of the weekend as they will also face off against each other on Saturday and Sunday.

The Black Knights jumped out to the early 2-0 edge after the first inning. Senior Alex Dickerson brought home one of those runs, handing him his team-leading eighth RBI in the last two games.

Duke earned one run back in the bottom half of the inning following a home run to center field before scoring the next six runs of the game to create a 7-2 gap between the teams.

The Cadets responded though with a big seventh inning to make it a 7-5 ballgame. Anfernee Crompton, Trey Martin and John McCarthy all posted an RBI in the inning after they brought home Brandon Lee, John McKenna and Josh White.

Unfortunately, an insurance run for the Blue Devils in the bottom of the eighth ultimately put the game out of reach.

Jeremy Mortensen was the losing pitcher after going 4.0 innings allowing five hits and four runs, three of which were earned.

McCarthy finished 3-for-4 with a run and an RBI to make him Army's top performer in the game.

ARMY HIGHLIGHTS AND GAME NOTES

McCarthy was Army's lone multi-hit player on the day.
Each team used four pitchers in the game.
Cam Opp finished his 1.2 innings of relief work with a clean sheet.
Brandon Lee earned his seventh career stolen base and first of the season.
The junior also earned a walk in the contest. Joining him in the base-on-balls category was McKenna and White.
The Black Knights were caught stealing four times.
Army earned one double play compared to three for Duke.
The Cadets' pitching staff combined for nine strikeouts in the game.

LINEUP BREAKDOWN
     Rosoff (C): 0-for-2 with a run
        - Houston (PH): 0-for-1
        - Sarsen (C): 0-for-1
     McCarthy (LF): 3-for-4 with an RBI and a run
     Lindner (2B): 0-for-4
     Dickerson (1B): 1-for-4 with an RBI
     Hudgins (RB): 0-for-2
        - Lee (PH): 0-for-1 with a run and a walk
     McKenna (DH): 0-for-3 with a run
     Crompton (3B): 0-for-3 with an RBI
        - Johnson (PH): 0-for-1
     White (SS): 1-for-3 with a run and a walk
     Hurtubise (CF): 0-for-2
        - Martin (PH): 1-for-1 with an RBI
        - Monge (CF): 1-for-1

     Mortensen (P): 4.0 innings, 5 hits, 4 runs, 3 earned runs, 2 walks, 3 strikeouts
        - Walters: 1.2 innings, 4 hits, 3 earned runs
        - Opp: 1.2 innings, 3 strikeouts
      - Carte: 0.2 innings, 1 hit, 1 earned run, 3 strikeouts

FACTS & FIGURES

The Black Knights posted five runs on seven hits with one error. The Blue Devils finished at eight runs on 10 hits with five errors.
Both teams stranded five base runners.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Rosoff started the game reaching on an error, before McCarthy singled to place two runners on. Lindner then advanced them to second and third during the ensuing at bat setting up Dickerson's single through the right side, which brought home Army's first run of the game. The Black Knights then tried to set up a double steal with runners on the corners but Dickerson was called out at second. Fortunately for the Cadets, McCarthy crossed home plate to hand them the 2-0 early advantage.
The Blue Devils quickly answered in the bottom half of the first to cut the lead down to 2-1 before scoring the game's next six runs to break things open at 7-2 after six innings.
Army recorded a three-run seventh after Lee reached on an error to begin the inning. McKenna then earned a walk before both runners advanced a base due to a passed ball. On the ensuing play, Crompton notched his first career RBI on a groundout to the shortstop. During the next at bat, White registered a walk to place runners on the corners. Duke was then forced to make a pitching change. The Black Knights answered with a pinch hitter in Martin, and the sophomore singled to bring home McKenna. On that same play, Martin advanced to second on a throwing error. With runners on second and third, Duke earned its second out of the inning. During the ensuing at bat McCarthy brought home Army's final run of the inning after singling to right field.
In the bottom half of the eighth, the Blue Devils tacked on an insurance run after a two-out triple down the right-field line.
Army wasn't able to tally the needed runs in the top of the ninth, dropping its fourth contest of the early season.

UP NEXT

These two programs meet again in a Saturday matinee at 1 p.m. That contest is slated for the Durham Bulls Athletic Park and will be streamed live on the ACC Network/ESPN 3