Duke baseball season ends in 5-4 Super Regional loss to Murray State
DURAHAM, N.C. (WTVD) -- Duke's baseball team fell short on Monday night in a stunning 5-4 loss to unheralded Murray State in Game 3 of the Durham Super Regional.
The Racers now head to the College World Series.
Luke Mistone hit a go-ahead homer in the eighth inning and Graham Kelham was solid in another long relief appearance as Murray State won the winner-take-all championship game to advance to the program's first College World Series.
Murray State (44-15) became the fourth No. 4 seed to advance to Omaha, Nebraska.
Duke (40-20) was seeking its first appearance in the CWS since 1961.
Jonathan Hogart hit his second home run of the game in the seventh inning - his 21st of the season - into the pine trees over the left-field wall to tie it at 3.
Murray State retook the lead in the eighth on Mistone's leadoff shot - just his fourth homer of the year. Then Dan Tauken's triple scored Will Vierling from first for a 5-3 lead after the ball caromed off the wall toward center field.
Later in the eighth, the Racers had the bases loaded with no outs after back-to-back walks, but James Tallon struck out two and got a groundout to end the threat.
Murray State appeared to win the game after an interference call at second base, but it was overturned after an official review to give Duke another chance. Kelham regrouped after the celebration to get a groundout to first to end it.
Kelham, who threw 43 pitches on Sunday in a three-inning save, struck out four in 2 2/3 innings for his fourth win of the season.
Reid Easterly (9-3) took the loss after allowing two earned runs in three relief innings.
The Racers set up the deciding game by pounding Duke for a 19-9 win on Sunday.
The Durham Super Regional was played at Duke's Jack Coombs Field, which was built 94 years ago and is holding its first postseason playoff games.
The Associated Press contributed.
