DURHAM, N.C. — In a day delayed by rain, Northwestern lost a pair of games in a double-header to Duke on Saturday at Jack Coombs Field.
 
The 'Cats lost game one, 5-4 (10), and dropped game two, 23-8.
 
In game one, the Wildcats used an explosive fifth inning to lead the Blue Devils, 3-1. Jack Dunn and Ben Dickey contributed RBI base-hits to give NU the two-run advantage.
 
In the waning innings, Duke stormed back to tie the contest. After an Anthony Calarco RBI single that made the game 4-1, Duke's Michael Rothenberg slugged a three-run home run to even up the contest at four runs apiece.
 
The game moved into extra innings, where the Blue Devils scratched across a run in the bottom of the 10th, giving Duke the first win of the series.
 
Hank Christie was again effective on the bump for Northwestern. He tossed 6.0 innings, allowing only three hits and one run while striking out a career-high 10 batters. His career high before the game was six.
 
The Brothers Dunn — Jack and David — each went 2-for-4 in the contest with a double and a run scored. After coming in as a pinch hitter, Casey O'Laughlin went 2-for-3 with a run scored.
 
In game two, Northwestern got off to another hot start, leading Duke, 5-0, after two-and-a-half innings of play. Duke's offense exploded in the third inning, scoring 12 runs.
 
O'Laughlin contributed largely to NU's hot start, smashing his first home run of the season, a three-run shot in the second inning.
 
After the big inning from Duke, NU continued to hit, scoring two runs in the fourth and one in the sixth, making the score 12-8.
 
Duke proceeded to score 11 runs in the seventh, moving the game to its eventual final score, 23-8. The game ended at 1:44 a.m. eastern time.
 
Jack Dunn had a perfect game at the plate, going 3-for-3 with a run, RBI, and a walk.
 
NU and Duke finish the series with a 12 p.m. CT contest at the Durham Bulls Athletic Park on Sunday.

 

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