Northwestern University Athletics
Northwestern
1-3
#12 Duke
5-0
Morr's Strong Outing Spoiled in 2-0 Loss at Duke
2/23/2024 7:06:00 PM | Baseball
DURHAM, N.C. – Nolan Morr's stellar outing was spoiled as Northwestern dropped the series opener to No. 12 Duke by a 2-0 scoreline.
The Blue Devils (5-0) grabbed an early lead by way of a solo home run by Ben Miller in the bottom of the first inning. Duke added another in the second inning when Wallace Clark drove home Devin Obee to double the lead.
After the first two innings, Morr settled in, retiring 15 consecutive Blue Devils before finally allowing a hit in the bottom of the eighth. Morr falls to 1-1 on the season.
Northwestern (1-3) was able to put the tying run on base in the top of the ninth before Charlie Beilenson closed the game out with back-to-back strikeouts.
Jonathan Santucci earned the win for the Blue Devils, striking out 10 batters in six scoreless innings, moving to 2-0 on the 2024 campaign.
Vince Bianchina and Bennett Markinson extended their season-opening hit streaks to four games. Markinson recorded his second-consecutive multi-hit effort with base hits in the fourth and eighth innings.
Game Notes
- Drew Dickson made his 2024 season debut, striking out one batter in one inning of relief.
- Drewbie Pinkston logged his first appearance of 2024 as a pinch runner in the ninth inning.
- Jackson Freeman reached base safely three times in four plate appearances, raising his on-base percentage to .444 on the 2024 campaign.
Game Two of the series is set for 2 p.m. CT at Jack Coombs Field in Durham. Matt McClure is slated to start for the 'Cats, with Andrew Healy set to pitch for the Blue Devils.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Santucci, Jonathan (2-0)
L: Morr, Nolan (0-2)
S: Beilenson, Charlie (4)
Batting:
SH: Bianchina, Vince 1
Batting:
2B: Gracia, AJ 1
HR: Miller, Ben 1
RBI: Miller, Ben 1 ; Clark, Wallace 1
SH: Morris, Zac 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Miller, Ben 1 ; Obee, Devin 1
SB: Obee, Devin 1
