A malfunctioning sprinkler system made a bizarre end to a great weekend for Duke's baseball team. The Blue Devils improved their record to 4-3 on the season behind dominating pitching performances by Stephen Cowie and Chris Capuano. Duke's third game of the weekend, however, was canceled when a malfunction in the watering system at historic Jack Coombs Stadium left the field unplayable yesterday.
"It was like a lake in center field and all around homeplate," coach Steve Traylor said. "The visiting dugout was a winter wonderland. There was just nothing we could do to get the field ready."
In the games the Blue Devils did play this weekend, however, they sparkled.
In Friday's game, Duke spoiled Davidson's home opener with a 6-2 victory. Leading the way for the Blue Devils was Cowie, who struck out 11 over six shutout innings and only gave up one hit. The 11 fans were a career high for the senior hurler.
"We got a great start out of Stephen Cowie, his best outing of the year," Traylor said. "He had not thrown well over his last couple of starts, but I think this is what we can expect to see from Stephen from now on."
According to Traylor, Cowie threw better as the game went on. After a leadoff single by Davidson's Ben Brown, Cowie only allowed three men on base, all off walks. He also struck out nine of the final 13 batters he faced.
He got plenty of run support, too, as the Blue Devils exploded for a five-run second inning and added a run in the eighth for good measure.
John Benik closed the game out for Duke by retiring all six batters he faced.
Saturday, Duke received another sterling performance from one of its pitchers as Chris Capuano struck out 10 while throwing a complete-game shutout in the Blue Devils' 4-0 victory over Georgetown.
"Really I think that's the best game he's had since he's been at Duke, and one of the better-pitched games that we've had in a long time," Traylor said. "He is going to be an outstanding starter in our rotation with his ability to get ahead like he did yesterday.
"He threw about a 90-pitch complete game, which is unheard of really. Usually 90 pitches will get you through five or six innings. In the past [his pitch count] had been keeping us from giving him more starts."
The offense had another solid game as Duke showed its ability to create runs. The Blue Devils, who have less power than in previous years, capitalized on their opportunities by advancing the runners on a flurry of singles.
"I think both of those wins can be attributed to our players' ability to manufacture runs by bunting and putting the ball in play," Traylor said.
Duke returns to action Wednesday at 3 p.m., hosting Virginia Commonwealth at historic Jack Coombs Field.
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