Proksch Shines as Duke Moves On to Winner’s Bracket in Athens Regional”:

Proksch Shines as Duke Moves On to Winner’s Bracket in Athens Regional

ATHENS, Ga. – In a postseason performance that will be remembered for years to come, Duke pitcher Charlie Proksch delivered a masterclass on the mound Friday afternoon, lifting the Blue Devils to a pivotal 6–2 victory over the UNC Wilmington Seahawks in the opening round of the Athens Regional of the NCAA Baseball Tournament. With the win, Duke (39–18) advances to the winner’s bracket and moves one step closer to punching a ticket to the Super Regionals.

The sophomore right-hander dazzled in front of a spirited crowd at Foley Field on the University of Georgia campus, striking out nine batters over seven dominant innings, walking none, and allowing just one earned run. It was the type of performance that not only solidifies Proksch’s status as one of Duke’s most reliable arms but also sets the tone for what Blue Devils fans hope will be a deep postseason run.

From the first pitch, it was clear that Proksch had a feel for his full arsenal. He worked both sides of the plate effectively and kept the Seahawks off balance with a steady mix of fastballs, changeups, and sweeping breaking balls. The biggest moment of the afternoon came in the bottom of the fifth when UNCW loaded the bases with one out. Proksch buckled down and struck out the next two batters swinging, energizing the Duke dugout and preserving a slim 3–1 lead.

“That was the turning point,” said Duke head coach Chris Pollard. “Charlie’s ability to rise in that moment and shut the door was incredible. It gave our offense the momentum to come back out and put up more runs.”

Proksch improved to 6–2 on the season and lowered his ERA to 3.45. He threw 101 pitches, 71 for strikes, and at no point did he seem rattled under pressure. His poise and precision were evident, even when the Seahawks threatened.

“Everything just felt right today,” said Proksch after the game. “My fastball was popping, and I felt like I could spot up my off-speed stuff pretty well. The defense had my back too—huge plays behind me.”

While Proksch’s pitching was the headline, Duke’s offense provided enough early fireworks to control the tempo of the game. The Blue Devils wasted no time getting on the board in the top of the first inning. Alex Mooney, Duke’s All-ACC shortstop, led off with a double down the left-field line and scored two batters later on a hard-hit RBI single from Luke Storm.

In the third, Duke extended its lead to 3–0 when Giovanni DiGiacomo crushed a two-run homer into the trees beyond right field. It was DiGiacomo’s seventh home run of the season and couldn’t have come at a better time.

“I was looking for a pitch I could drive,” DiGiacomo said. “I got a fastball middle-in and just trusted my swing. It felt good off the bat.”

The Blue Devils added insurance runs in the sixth and seventh, including an RBI double from Andrew Fischer, who continues to be a postseason weapon after a strong finish to the regular season.

Despite entering the regional as underdogs, the Seahawks (36–22) showed grit throughout the contest. They finally broke through against Proksch in the fourth inning when Ron Evans singled home a run to cut Duke’s lead to 3–1. Later in the eighth, with Proksch out of the game, UNCW added a second run off reliever James Tallon, but the Blue Devils bullpen held strong.

UNCW starter Zach Morales took the loss, giving up four runs (three earned) over 5.2 innings. The Seahawks will now face elimination in their next game and will need to win three straight to stay alive in the regional.

“We had our chances,” said UNCW head coach Randy Hood. “We left a lot of guys on base and didn’t execute in key spots. Credit to Duke—they played a complete game.”

Duke’s defense, often overshadowed by its high-powered offense, played a crucial role in Friday’s win. In the sixth inning, with a runner on second and no outs, Mooney made a diving stop up the middle and threw out the runner at first. Two batters later, Tyler Albright gunned down a runner trying to tag up from third with a strike to home plate, ending the inning and keeping momentum squarely in Duke’s favor.

“That’s what it’s all about in postseason baseball—execution,” said Pollard. “You’ve got to make those plays in tight moments, and our guys did just that.”

With the win, Duke advances to face host team Georgia, who defeated Army in the late game, in a winner’s bracket showdown Saturday night. The Bulldogs, with the crowd behind them, will present a unique challenge, but the Blue Devils are confident and well-rested heading into the crucial matchup.

“We’ve been in hostile environments before,” said Mooney. “We’re not intimidated. We just have to play our game, lean on our pitching, and trust our approach at the plate.”

Coach Pollard has not yet announced a starting pitcher for Saturday’s game, but it’s expected that Jonathan Santucci will get the nod. Santucci, who boasts an electric fastball and wipeout slider, has been one of the best arms in the ACC this season when healthy.

“We’ve set ourselves up nicely,” Pollard added. “That first win is huge—it takes a lot of pressure off and allows us to manage our bullpen smartly moving forward.”

The Athens Regional is one of the more balanced regionals in this year’s tournament field. Georgia, Duke, UNCW, and Army all came in with 30+ wins and top-tier pitching. For Duke, which last made a deep postseason run in 2021 when they reached the Super Regionals, this year represents an opportunity to reassert themselves as a national powerhouse.

“People are starting to notice us again,” said DiGiacomo. “We’ve got the tools to go far—pitching, hitting, defense. And most of all, we believe.”

Duke fans traveled well, filling a noticeable portion of Foley Field with blue and white. The energy was contagious and only grew louder as the game went on and Proksch kept delivering zero after zero.

There’s no debate over who earned top honors in Friday’s game. Proksch’s seven innings of near-flawless pitching not only silenced a solid UNCW lineup but gave his team the foundation it needed to control the game from start to finish.

His 9 strikeouts were one shy of his career high, and his zero walks underscored his command and maturity on the mound. For a sophomore to show that kind of composure on the national stage is a promising sign for the future of Duke baseball.

“It’s a great feeling,” said Proksch. “But this is just the beginning. We have bigger goals. We want to win this regional. We want to go all the way.”

Duke’s opening-round win at the Athens Regional was a perfect blend of strong pitching, timely hitting, and airtight defense. With Proksch setting the tone and the offense capitalizing on early opportunities, the Blue Devils looked every bit the contender many believed they could be.

Now, with a chance to seize control of the regional against host Georgia, Duke must continue to execute and stay locked in. If Friday’s performance is any indication, this team is peaking at the right time.

Stay tuned—this regional is just heating up, and Duke is right in the middle of it.