Duke Baseball Aims to Extend Momentum Against Virginia This Weekend

DURHAM, N.C. – Duke University’s baseball team, currently sitting at 13-9 overall and 2-4 in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC), prepares to take on the 23rd-ranked Virginia Cavaliers in a weekend series starting Friday, March 21, at 6 p.m. at Davenport Field in Charlottesville, Virginia. The game will be broadcast live on ACCNX.

The Blue Devils are coming off a decisive 12-2 victory against UConn, showcasing a strong offensive performance and effective pitching. Head coach Chris Pollard emphasized the importance of their recent success as they head into the Virginia series, stating, “We came out looking to make a statement that was not us. We are not gonna roll over.”

In the game against UConn, Duke’s offense exploded from the start, scoring four runs in the opening inning, highlighted by a two-RBI single from Ben Miller. The team maintained momentum throughout the matchup, with contributions from players including Jake Berger, who belted a home run during the sixth inning, extending the Blue Devil lead to ten runs.

“I know for sure that [Berger’s] at-bat in the sixth was the at-bat of the year,” Pollard remarked after the game, reflecting on the offensive depth the team displayed throughout the contest.

As Duke moves to face Virginia (12-7, 3-3 ACC), the series presents a crucial opportunity for the Blue Devils to improve their conference record. The three-game series features Friday’s first pitch at 6 p.m., followed by a 4 p.m. match on Saturday, March 22, and a 1 p.m. start on Sunday, March 23, all at Disharoon Park.

On the mound for Duke on Friday will be a left-handed pitcher yet to be announced, while Virginia is expected to start right-hander Jay Woolfolk. Saturday’s matchup will feature Duke’s left-handed pitcher against Virginia’s lefty Tomas Valincius, and on Sunday, Duke is still determining their starter against Virginia’s Evan Blanco.

As the Blue Devils gear up for the series, they will look to capitalize on their previous outing’s success and carry the momentum into this critical phase of the season.