After a disappointing loss to mid-major Campbell on Tuesday, the Blue Devils righted the ship by thrashing N.C. Central 17-3. Duke will look to carry that momentum and develop some consistency in its four game series against Canisius this weekend.
Duke (2-3) will host the Golden Griffins at Jack Coombs Field from Friday through Sunday, with a doubleheader beginning Saturday at noon. Blue Devils head coach Sean McNally is hoping that his team can use its victory against N.C. Central as a platform to build off during its weekend series.
“During the early part of the season every game is important in establishing your identity as a team, and especially [against N.C. Central], bouncing back is big,” McNally said. “I really liked how our guys responded and I’m hoping we can keep it going.”
Canisius (2-1) has a dangerous middle-of-the-order tandem that should challenge Duke’s pitching staff. Third baseman Drew Pettit led the MAAC with a .423 batting average last season and hit .425 with runners in scoring position. Cleanup hitter Chris Gruarin is off to a hot start this season as well, with seven hits in his first 13 at bats.
In contending with Canisius’ offense, McNally said that he expects his pitching staff to follow its usual mantra.
“We’re always going to be about pitching and defense, and pounding the strike zone is the most important thing our pitchers can do to be successful,” McNally said.
The Blue Devils will start junior Marcus Stroman on the mound Friday, and follow up with sophomore Robert Huber and freshman Trent Swart in Saturday’s doubleheader. Huber pitched six shutout innings against then-No. 13 Texas last Sunday, allowing just two hits and tying a career high with six strikeouts. Stroman, the team’s opening day starter, was solid in holding the Longhorns to just three earned runs in five innings.
The weekend series will also provide an opportunity for Duke’s offense to continue establishing its identity. After the Blue Devils smashed four home runs in their win over N.C. Central, it appears that its speed-based approach from last year could be changing.
“Last year we ran a lot, and this year, we’re still going to run, but we have the opportunity to drive the ball a little more,” McNally said. “But we’re really still evolving offensively and starting to come up with more diverse ways to score runs.”
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