DURHAM, N.C. – No. 13 Duke scored a total of eight runs in the seventh and eighth innings to take a 10-4 decision over Gardner-Webb in the finale of Sunday's doubleheader.
 
Duke improves to 35-11 overall, while the Runnin' Bulldogs fall to 26-22 on the season.
 
The Blue Devils scratched first, plating a run in the bottom of the second inning on a RBI double to left field by Jack Labosky.
 
The Diamond 'Dogs took their first lead of the day in the top of the fifth inning.  With one out, Eric Jones reached after being hit by a pitch, followed by a RBI triple belted to the right field gap by Justin Kunz to square the game at 1-1.
 
Later in the frame, Taber Mongero pushed a single through the right side that allowed Kunz to score to give GWU a 2-1 advantage with two outs.
 
Duke responded in the bottom half of the inning, tying the game on a RBI single to right field by Labosky.
 
The Blue Devils reclaimed the lead in the bottom of the seventh inning.  Jimmy Herron drove the first run of the inning home on a base hit up the middle, followed by a RBI fielder's choice off the bat of Chris Proctor that allowed Herron to score.
 
Back-to-back RBI base hits by Joey Loperfido and Griffin Conine drove in an additional pair of runs to give Duke a 6-2 lead at the end of the frame.
 
GWU sliced into Duke's lead in the top of the eighth inning, as a pair of runs came home off the bat of Chandler Redmond, who connected with a single to the left field gap to set the score at 6-4.
 
The Blue Devils answered in the bottom of the eighth, plating two runs on a double by Herron, later followed by a RBI double by Zack Kone and a RBI single by Loperfido to increase their lead to 10-4.
 
Ethan DeCaster (4-0) earned the win for Duke, tossing 1.2 innings of relief, allowing two runs on three base hits while fanning three batters.  Jack Labosky earned the save, his seventh of the season, tossing the final 1.2 innings, allowing no runs on one base hit with a strikeout.
 
Tyler Johnson (1-1) took the loss for GWU, allowing two runs on three hits with one strikeout in 1.1 innings of work from the bullpen.  Bradley Hallman tossed the first five innings, giving up two runs on six hits with a pair of strikeouts.  GWU used a total of five pitchers for the evening.
 
The Blue Devils collected a total of 16 base hits throughout the nightcap, led by Loperfido (3-for-5, 2 RBI, 1 run) and Taylor (3-for-4, 2B, 2 runs)
 
The Diamond 'Dogs had seven hits throughout the contest, with Mongero (2-for-4, RBI) leading that effort.
 
Gardner-Webb will pause for final exams before returning to action Friday evening, hosting Charleston Southern in Big South Conference play.  The first pitch is slated for 6:00 pm from Bill Masters Field at John Henry Moss Stadium.