DURHAM, North Carolina -- Maryland Eastern Shore baseball battled back from a 7-0 deficit to pull within two. But Duke managed to hold on for a victory 9-5 at Jack Coombs Field Wednesday (Mar. 21).

The Hawks (2-18) broke the ice in the sixth. Freshman Jordan Torres (Brooklyn, New York) hit a double to start the rally, coming home when junior Joey Nicastro (New Market, Maryland) was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded. Freshman Avery Tunnell (Dover, Delaware) then drew a bases loaded walk to cut into the lead even further.

Hope really came forward in the seventh. Junior Dominic DeBlasie (Tilton, New Hampshire) walked to lead it off, followed by freshman Brian Cordell (Pasadena, Maryland) earning his first collegiate hit to get another rally going. Senior Tyler Friis (Appleton, Wisconsin), freshman Dillon Oxyer (Pasadena, Maryland) and Nicastro all drove in runs with RBI singles. Suddenly a seven run deficit was down to two.

But it was Duke (18-4) who had the final answer in the ninth with a two run homer to build the lead back up to four. The Shore went in order in the last half to end the game.

In addition to all the timely hitting, senior Toby Hoskins (North East, Maryland) and sophomore Marty Tolson, Jr. (Stafford, Virginia) were effective in relief. Sophomore Andre Bell (Detroit, Michigan) struck out two in his start, but was tabbed with the loss.

The Shore battles Norfolk State at Arthur W. Perdue Stadium this weekend.