Feb. 26, 2005

Game 1 Box Score

Game 2 Box Score

Tuscaloosa, Ala. - Duquesne University's baseball team dropped both games of a day-night doubleheader at Alabama, 6-1 and 4-1, Saturday at the Crimson Tide's Sewell-Thomas Stadium, also known as "The Joe." The twinbill was scheduled due to Sunday's weather forecast.

In the first game, after two scoreless innings from both squads, the Dukes struck first in the top of the third when sophomore right fielder Corey Bugno drove in freshman left fielder Pat Kimutis to give Duquesne their first and only run of the game.

The Dukes would hold that lead until the bottom of the fourth when designated hitter Evan Bush hit a solo home run to left field to tie the game, 1-1. Bama would take the lead for good in the bottom of the fifth when Rocky Scelfo scored on a wild pitch.

Junior Scott Chisholm was charged with the loss, giving up two earned runs in six innings. He struck out three, walked two and allowed four hits.

The Tide's Wade LeBlanc picked up the win. He pitched seven innings, giving up one unearned run and two hits while striking out 13 Dukes, his career best performance.

Alabama jumped out to 3-0 lead in Saturday night's game before the Dukes put a marker on the board in the top of the fourth. Sophomore catcher Derek Mechling drove a one-out triple to center and scored on junior shortstop Steve Maiolo's ground out. The Tide added an insurance run in the seventh for the 4-1 edge.

Junior Bob Hartle was charged with the loss, giving up Alabama's first run (earned) in two innings on the mound. T.J. Large held the Dukes to two hits and the one earned run in seven innings to gain the win.

Unlike Friday when nearly half of Alabama's runs were unearned, the Dukes committed just one error in sixteen innings on the field Saturday.

Alabama, which sweeped the three-game series, is now 8-3 while the Dukes dropped to 0-3.

The Dukes are back in action next weekend when they will take on Liberty in a Fri.-Sun. three-game series in Lynchburg, Va. The first game is schedule to start on March 4th at 2:30 p.m.