Live Game Blog – Opening Day vs no. 12 Duke

Blue Devils and Hoosiers open the season in Conway, SC

By Carl James @jovian34 February 16, 2024

Bottom 9th: no 12 Duke 6, Hoosiers 3 (FINAL)

Top of the order up with a 3-run deficit. Mathison gets ahead in the count, but strikes out. Three contacts out end this one. The Hoosiers start the season 0-1.

Top 9th: no 12 Duke 6, Hoosiers 3

Whiteaker surrenders a single, but then a 1-4-6-3 double play executed well by defensive replacement ⭐Hayden Carlson. Mathison collects the third out in centerfield.

Bottom 8th: no 12 Duke 6, Hoosiers 3

Jake Stadler gets a one out, opposite field double. Joey Brenczewski gets a pinch hit opportunity, but grounds out.

Top 8th: no 12 Duke 6, Hoosiers 3

Evan Whiteaker is the new Hoosier pitcher. He gives up a solo shot to the first batter he faces. Whiteaker then gets the next three with soft contact. Photo by Carl James for iubase.com

Bottom 7th: no 12 Duke 5, Hoosiers 3

Carter Mathison cuts the lead with a solo shot on a 1-2 pitch. Pyne gets a single and Taylor beats the shift with a ground ball to the unoccupied 5-hole, prompting a pitching change. Like Indiana, Duke’s first option out of the pen has not been successful. Duke now calls on righty Charlie Beilenson with two on and one out. Tibbitts gets ahead 3-0 buts strikes out on three straight 92mph fastballs. Cerny gets behind 0-2 on off-speed before fouling a couple of pitches off and striking out on a great 2-2 slider.

Top 7th: no 12 Duke 5, Hoosiers 2

Ryan Kraft hits a batter and then surrenders a double with no outs. Aydan Decker-Petty comes in and gets a short fly ball for the first out and then a deep sacrifice fly adds a run, but makes it two outs. A single down the line scores the other inherited run closing the book on Kraft with 4 earned runs in 1.1 innings of work. A botched back pick and walk put runners on the corner. The Hoosier bullpen is active yet again. ⭐ Devin Taylor makes a diving catch that is under review and then confirmed.

Bottom 6th: no 12 Duke 3, Hoosiers 2

Duke goes with Owen Proksch on the mound to hold the lead, but Tyler Cerny hits a two-run home run to cut the deficit to one.

Top 6th: no 12 Duke 3, Hoosiers 0

Another great play at short by Cerny gets the lead-off man, but back-to-back solo shots gets Duke up by three. Kraft then walks the next batter prompting a visit from pitching coach Dusting Glant. A single up the middle gets two Blue Devils on with one out. Aydan Decker-Petty is throwing in the bullpen as Morgan Collopy collects a fly ball in right for the second out. Kraft then gets a strike out on an 89mph pitch to end the inning.

Bottom 5th: no 12 Duke 1, Hoosiers 0

After a hard groundout Stantucci walks Brandon Burckel on four pitches prompting a mound visit before facing the Hoosier top of the order for the third time. Stantucci’s first strike of the inning is smacked into right field by Mathison for a single. Stanucci still can throw 94 and get ahead 1-2 to Pyne who grounds into a 6-4-3 double play to preserve Duke’s 1-run lead.

Top 5th: no 12 Duke 1, Hoosiers 0

Risedorph got behind 2-0 and signaled to Staddler that the second pitch was his fault. He battled back and induced a groundout to Cerny. A two out double down the third base line is Duke’s first hit. Ryan Kraft is now working in the Hoosier bullpen. A double to the right center gap gives the Blue Devils the lead and will end Risedorph’s day after a really good start. Kraft is the new pitcher. Kraft ends the remaining threat with a strikeout.

Can’t say enough about the quality of Risedorph’s start here. He pitched to contact and wasn’t hit until the fifth inning. Kraft is capable of going the rest of the way to give the Hoosier bats an opportunity.

Bottom 4th: no 12 Duke 0, Hoosiers 0

Devin Taylor works the count full before flying out to left field to lead off the inning. With two outs Cerny also worked the count full before ripping a rocket to second base and getting on via an error (EDIT: later ruled a hit). A.J. Shepard gets his first collegiate hit to get Cerny into scoring position, but Stanucci induces a flyout to end the Hoosier threat.

Top 4th: no 12 Duke 0, Hoosiers 0

Pyne gets eaten up by a chopper to put a runner on, despite a great back up effort by Cerny who almost made the play. Risedorph keeps pitching to contact and comes from behind 3-1 to end the inning on a strikeout. This has been a solid start for the sophomore so far today.

Botton 3rd: no 12 Duke 0, Hoosiers 0

Stanucci strikes out the side for a 1-2-3 inning. Brandon Burckel made him work a bit, but the top of the order struggled with an effective mix. Stanucci has thrown 48 through 3 innings.

Top 3rd: no 12 Duke 0, Hoosiers 0

Risedorph is letting his defense work for him. Great plays Josh Pyne, Tyler Cerny, and Jake Staddler set the Blue Devils down 1-2-3. Risedorph is at 43 pitches after three innings of work.

Botton 2nd: no 12 Duke 0, Hoosiers 0

Stanucci looking more like the potential All-American he was advertised making quick work of the Hoosiers in a 1-2-3 inning.

Top 2nd: no 12 Duke 0, Hoosiers 0

Tyler Cerny makes a great play ⭐ and the Hoosiers strand one that walked. Risedorph throwing more off-speed now.

Bottom 1st: no 12 Duke 0, Hoosiers 0

Carter Mathison drew a 4-pitch walk to start the frame. Josh Pyne worked Stanucci to a full count before striking out on a 96 mph fastball. Stanucci got ahead of Devin Taylor 0-2 throwing 83 mph sliders. Duke has an extreme shift in play for Taylor. who smacked a single the other way into left field. Brock Tibbitts looked at a slider for a three pitch strikeout. Stanucci then ended the inning with another strikeout getting Cerny to whiff. The Hoosiers did manage to get Stanucci’s pitch count up to 25.

Top 1st: no 12 Duke 0, Hoosiers 0

Indiana is the designated home team for this neutral contest. Risedorph pitches a 1-2-3 inning with nine pitches getting one strikeout. His fastball touched 92 mph three times.

Pregame:

Braden Risedorph is warming up for today’s game with pitching coach Dustin Glant looking on. Photo by Carl James for iubase.com

Starters:

A bit of a surprise that Nick Mitchell is not in the opening day lineup. Carter Mathison will be leading off and Morgan Colopy gets the start in right field.

Indiana RHP Brayden Risedorph vs. Duke LHP Jonathan Stanucci

Links:


Live Video: es.pn/3I05ZAc
Live Audio: bit.ly/IUAudio
Live Stats: bit.ly/488Fun4