Duke scores in first and last innings, edges Rider 2-1 in Conway Regional

Giovanni DiGiacomo doubled leading off the ninth inning and later scored on a flyout by Damon Lux, giving Duke a 2-1 victory over Rider on Saturday in a winner's bracket game of the Conway Regional hosted by Coastal Carolina.

Duke's Jay Beshears hit a solo home run in the first inning and the Blue Devils went scoreless for the next seven innings until DiGiacomo and Lux created the ninth-inning run.

After Beshears' home run, Duke's 1-0 lead held up until the sixth inning when Rider's Scott Shaw drew a leadoff walk, took second on a passed ball, advanced to third on a single by Brian Skettini and scored on Luke Lesch's sacrifice fly.

The Broncs threatened in the bottom of the ninth when Lesch and Socrates Bardatsos drew walks, but Fran Oschell III (5-0) got out of the jam with a groundout and strikeout.

Five Duke pitchers scattered four hits. Duke had five hits.

Rider (36-20) will play top-seeded Coastal Carolina in a loser-out game on Sunday. The Chanticleers stayed alive Saturday by eliminating UNC Wilmington.

No. 2-seed Duke (37-21) awaits the winner between No. 1 Coastal Carolina and No. 4 Rider. The Broncs defeated Coastal Carolina 11-10 on Friday.