Box Score DURHAM, N.C. – Senior Kyle Gallagher went 2-for-3 with a double and an RBI to extend his hitting streak to four games, but Duke used a four-run sixth inning to stave off the baseball team for a 8-3 victory on Friday night in the first of three games this weekend at Durham Bulls Athletic Park.
 
Duke (7-2), which extended its winning streak to six games, plated a run in the first inning then Jack Labosky hit a two-run homer in the second. But Cornell senior starter Tim Willittes settled in after that, working a couple quiet frames before the Big Red started to solve Duke starter Adam Laskey.
 
A piece of padding on the field's wall in center field came dislodged a few times in the top of the fifth inning, causing several delays – but the Big Red offense still managed find enough of a rhythm to break through. Gallagher led off with a double, then senior Trey Baur walked. Freshman Ramon Garza then singled to center to drive in Gallagher for his first collegiate RBI.
 
Singles from senior Pierre Le Dorze and Gallagher put two runners on in the sixth, but they were left on base. Duke responded by batting around in the bottom half of the frame, extending its lead to 7-1.
 
But the Big Red didn't go down quietly. Cornell worked five walks against three of the four pitchers Duke used in the inning, with Le Dorze and junior Will Simoneit earning RBIs.
 
Gallagher was ahead in the count, 2-0, when Duke made its last pitching change by summoning Ethan DeCaster. The righty with a three-quarters delivery pumped in a couple strikes before running the count full, then left the bases loaded when he got a called third strike at the knees on the inside corner. DeCaster ended up working 2.1 innings for his seconds save of the season.
 
The non-league series continues at 3:30 p.m. Saturday.