On Feb. 21, the Blue Devil fielders committed two errors, the pitchers handed out six free passes and hit five batters and Duke fell to 1-3 on the season in a 10-4 home loss to Campbell.
The Blue Devils (12-17) will look to avenge that defeat tonight as they travel to Buies Creek, N.C. for a rematch with the Fighting Camels (25-4).
Duke is coming in off a weekend of mixed results. The team was able to salvage the finale of a three-game series at then-No. 21 Georgia Tech, but dropped a doubleheader Saturday without scoring a single run.
The squad failed to capitalize on another top performance from Marcus Stroman in the first game Saturday, losing 1-0. Stroman struck out 12 Yellow Jackets while surrendering just one run and no walks in 7.2 innings.
The offensive woes continued in the second game as the Blue Devils managed just two base knocks and fell out of the game after a five-run seventh inning put Georgia Tech up 8-0.
On Sunday, Duke was able to cling to its 4-3 victory when Anthony D’Alessandro gunned down Georgia Tech’s Brandon Thomas at the plate in the bottom of the ninth. Thomas’ double began the final frame, and he moved to third on a groundout to short. Thomas tagged up on the ensuing fly ball to left—where D’Alessandro had just come in as a defensive replacement to start the inning—but D’Alessandro’s one-hopper got to catcher Mike Rosenfeld in time for the game-ending double play.
Despite their record, the Blue Devils have outscored their opponents 133-132 this season. Centerfielder Will Piwnica-Worms leads the offensive attack for Duke, slugging .486 and getting on base nearly 40 percent of the time.
Campbell, however, has a potent lineup that boasts two over-.400 hitters—Michael Felton and Jake Kirkland—and averages nearly eight runs a game.
That Fighting Camel lineup recorded eight extra-base hits in the first matchup between the two teams, jumping out to a 3-0 lead in the first inning and never looking back.
Today’s game will wrap up an eight game road trip for Duke—during which it has gone 4-3—that began with a three-game sweep of Virginia Tech. The Blue Devils will then resume conference play against Clemson at Jack Coombs Field this weekend.
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