Duke takes Game 2 on crazy ending

NASHVILLE, Tenn.--You don't see a lot of games end on plays at the plate, but this one did.

And it didn't go in Vanderbilt's favor.

Freshman Pat DeMarco was thrown out at home trying to score from second on a ball that didn't leave the infield, as Duke evened the series at a game each with a 5-4 win at Hawkins Field on Saturday afternoon.

Vandy shortstop Connor Kaiser had just kept the game alive with a single to deep short with two out. Vandy's Ethan Paul smashed a ball to Duke's Joey Loperfido at first. The freshman had trouble coming up with the ball and Paul was safe at first.

DeMarco got to third and rounded the bag. The throw went home. It was perfect, and nipped DeMarco by a few feet to end the game.

It ruined a great day by Stephen Scott, who had two doubles and a home run for the Commodores.

Vandy led briefly at 1-0 after Kaiser reached on Loperfido's error that scored Scott.

Duke bounced back in the top of the next inning with Jack Labosky's two-RBI single.

DeMarco singled to knock in Scott to tie it again in the fifth.

Duke All-American Griffin Conine blasted a two-run homer to left off Tyler Brown in the seventh, putting the Blue Devils up, 4-2.

Scott countered with a solo homer in the bottom of the seventh, then, Kaiser added an RBI double to tie it.

But Vandy's Patrick Raby ran into trouble in the bottom of the eighth, and gave up a double to left by Kenny Taylor that scored the game-winning run.

Lefty Zach King started and gave up two earned runs in four innings.

DeMarco and Kaiser had two hits each.

The teams finish the series on Sunday at 1 Central, with Chandler Day taking the mound for the Commodores (1-1).