After surrendering a season-high 12 runs Sunday at N.C. State, Duke responded with its best pitching performance in four years.
Christopher Manno, John Bunder and Ron Causey combined for a seven-inning no-hitter in the second game of a doubleheader sweep over N.C. Central (6-22) Tuesday at Jack Coombs Field. The hurlers committed only one walk overall and punched out nine Eagles in Duke's 22-0 shutout win.
The Blue Devils (25-12) came back from an early deficit to beat N.C. Central, 8-2, in the opening game.
"Our guys were pounding the strike zone, getting ahead, being aggressive," head coach Sean McNally said. "A lot of things went right.... It was exciting for our pitchers."
Duke's offense excelled all night, making the Eagles pay for their many walks and inexperienced defense. The Blue Devils executed a blend of power and contact at the plate, while Duke's pitchers shut the Eagles down from the rubber.
Even though the three pitchers certainly threw well, the no-no was just as much a product of the team's outstanding defensive performance.
In the fifth inning, the Blue Devils flashed their gloves in an effort to help their pitching staff out. After second baseman Dennis O'Grady snagged a line drive to retire Tye Gray, center fielder Tom Luciano tracked down two consecutive drives to right center, including one he had to stretch out and catch over his shoulder for the final out of the inning.
"That's the strength of our team," Bunder said. "Duke Baseball-we just pitch and play defense. That's what we strive to do everyday."
But the Blue Devils' bats weren't lacking at all either. Led by first baseman Nate Freiman, who returned to the lineup from a broken hand last weekend after sitting out 18 games, Duke followed up a strong performance in the first contest with a 22-run, 14-hit barrage in the second. After going down 1-2-3 in the first inning, the Blue Devils scored in every frame thereafter.
Freiman finished 6-for-9 on the night, blasting his first career grand slam-and Duke's first in two seasons-over the wall in center field en route to a seven-RBI performance. Although McNally made multiple substitutions throughout the doubleheader, he said he left Freiman in for the duration of both games so the slugger could see as much live pitching as possible.
"That was really important for him," McNally said. "He's incredible. He's made a pretty seamless transition back into the heart of the order. He just totally changes the complexion of our lineup, not only with what he can do, but how it helps the other guys.... It's just had a huge impact for us."
After a late night under the lights, Duke will board a bus to Buies Creek this afternoon in order to face Campbell (15-22), where Jonathan Foreman (1-0) will take the hill. Duke resumes conference play this weekend when it hosts Clemson for a three-game series.
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