This is not how it was supposed to happen.
Coming off a strong beginning to the season in non-conference play, the Duke baseball team entered this weekend's three-game series against Virginia, and the onset of the ACC season, with high hopes. Those hopes were dashed, however, as Virginia (15-9, 4-2 in the ACC) cruised to a sweep, beating the Blue Devils (14-10, 0-3) 6-4 Friday, 8-3 Saturday, and 9-5 Sunday at Jack Coombs Field.
"We're just not doing the little things right, and in this conference, you can't afford that," coach Bill Hillier said. "It's a humbling game, and our guys are humbled right now.
Sunday's sloppy, error-filled ballgame was especially disappointing for Duke.
The Cavaliers took an early lead in the second when centerfielder Chris Sweet tripled to lead off the inning, and scored on a groundout by Mike Priest. In the following inning, Duke starter Paul DeMarco (1-2) walked the first two batters, and eventually allowed them to score on an RBI grounder by Robert Word and a bloop single by Mark Reynolds.
Down 3-0, the Blue Devils rallied in the third. Freshman centerfielder Justin Calliham led off the inning by roping a first-pitch fastball over the wall in right-center, putting Duke on the scoreboard. Consecutive singles by Kevin Kelly, Tim Layden and Drew Jerdan plated another run, but Grant Stanley grounded out with the bases loaded to end the inning.
Duke tied the game in the fourth on a monstrous solo homer by junior Brian Patrick. The ball was hit so hard that the rightfielder, Matt Street, hardly budged as the ball sailed over his head, and cleared the scoreboard behind the rightfield wall as well.
The Blue Devils were not able to capitalize on their momentum, however, and instead unraveled in the fifth inning. DeMarco again walked the first two hitters of the inning, prompting Hillier to pull him in favor of sophomore Zach Schreiber. The first batter he faced, Dan Street, greeted Schreiber by crushing a hanging curveball high off the wall in left-center for a two-RBI double. The Cavaliers proceeded to add two more runs on an RBI single and Duke's second and third errors of the inning.
Duke managed to add two more runs, one coming on a long home run by Larry Broadway, Duke's third home run of the afternoon. However, the damage was largely done, and the game was sealed when Virginia added insurance runs in the eighth and ninth innings.
Friday, the Blue Devils lost in extra innings. After rallying to score two runs in the bottom of the ninth to tie the game, Duke gave up two runs in the 10th to lose. Jeff Alleva, the Duke starter, was struck in the face with a line drive and forced to leave the game, although he was healthy enough to pitch in Sunday's contest.
Saturday, the Cavaliers were too strong offensively, mashing 16 hits. The Blue Devils were mostly held in check by Virginia starter Jeff Kamrath. Larry Broadway had an RBI double and Patrick went 2-for-4.
"We're disappointed, because we're definitely a better team than what we showed this weekend," Patrick said. "So we're just looking to come out of this with a newfound energy and excitement for the game."
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