Duke Destroys Fighting Irish in Series Opener

DURHAM, NC —– Scoring seven runs in the eighth inning sealed the deal as Duke maneuvered through No. 10 Notre Dame, 15-5, at Jack Coombs Field.

Duke (14-20, 4-12 ACC) completed 15 runs on 16 hits, the most in the ACC this season. Notre Dame (21-6, 8-5 ACC) is now 16-5 in the matchup.

Freshmen Alex Mooney and Andrew Yu, and junior Graham Pauley led the Blue Devils in hits. Mooney finished 3 for 4 while scoring three runs and adding three RBIs and a double. Yu finished 4 for 5 with three runs scored, a pair of RBIs, and a home run. Pauley also went 4 for 5, adding three RBIs and his team-leading.

Left-handed pitcher Jonathan Santucci played stellar through the first four innings in his first career ACC start. Santucci marked five strikeouts to match his career-high while only allowing one hit, a bunt in the fourth inning.

Duke had its best start to a game this season, jumping out to a 6-0 lead throughout the first three innings, counting three runs in the first innings for the most in a first-inning this year. The Blue Devils got its first score on the board by senior RJ Schreck. Later in the first, Yu landed a two-run home run to give Duke a 3-0 lead.

The Fighting Irish showed grit and heart, scoring four runs on three hits in the top of the fifth inning to make it a two-run game, 6-4. Duke responded to this run hitting a pair of runs in the button of the sixth to extend the lead 8-4.

Duke hit seven runs in the bottom of the eighth inning to pull away from the Fighting Irish, 15-5.

The Blue Devils and Fighting Irish continue their three-game series on Friday at 6:00 pm at Jack Coombs Field. The game will be streamed on ESPN+.