Duke baseball tops Milwaukee 6-2 to take series, completes 3-1 weekend in Durham

Duke closes four-game set with bullpen plan and late power

Duke completed a four-game, season-opening series against the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee with a 6-2 win on Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026, at Jack Coombs Field in Durham, North Carolina. The result gave Duke three wins in the four-game set and ended the weekend with the Blue Devils at 7-2 overall.

The finale followed a distinct script: Duke pieced together nine innings with two pitchers, struck early with aggressive baserunning, and then added separation with a three-run home run in the seventh inning.

How the deciding runs were created

Duke scored three runs in the second inning to set the tone. The opening run came via a double steal that brought Tyler Albright home. Brooks Perez then tripled in Bobby Marsh, and Adam Troch followed with a run-scoring single to make it 3-0.

After several scoreless frames, Duke extended the lead in the seventh when Marsh hit a three-run home run with two outs, his first home run for Duke. That swing pushed the margin to six runs and effectively decided the game before the final inning.

• Second inning: Duke uses a double steal plus two extra-base hits to build an early 3-0 lead.
• Seventh inning: A two-out, three-run homer doubles the advantage and creates late separation.

Pitching and defense shaped the finale

Duke’s pitching plan paired right-hander Andy Leon for the first four innings with right-hander Jack Hedrick for the final five. Leon struck out seven in four innings, allowing one baserunner (a hit-by-pitch) and keeping Milwaukee hitless during his stint. Hedrick worked the last five innings, yielding two hits while striking out five.

Milwaukee’s scoring came late. The Panthers’ first run was unearned in the ninth inning after a throwing error allowed Charlie Marion to score. Milwaukee added a second run, but Duke recorded the final outs without surrendering a rally.

Duke’s combined approach limited Milwaukee to three hits in the finale and kept the Panthers off the scoreboard until the ninth inning.

What the series result means for Milwaukee

The trip to Durham was part of a demanding early schedule for Milwaukee, which began the season on the road against LSU before heading to face Duke. The series also marked the first meetings between Milwaukee and Duke in baseball.

Next, Duke was scheduled to play at UNC Wilmington on Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2026. Milwaukee’s schedule continued with road games following the Duke series as the Panthers moved deeper into their nonconference slate.