Duke has established a pattern during ACC play-lose Friday night, win Saturday behind a strong performance from Tony Bajoczky and then lose the final game of the series.
Finally catching a break in their conference schedule against Maryland (22-18, 6-12 in the ACC), the Blue Devils (23-16, 4-14) will look to buck that trend this weekend at Jack Coombs Field and take their first series of the ACC schedule.
In order to do that, Duke is focusing on tonight's contest at 7 p.m., hoping to set the tone for the weekend, which also includes games Saturday at 2 p.m. and Sunday at 1 p.m.
"Friday night's a big key-we want to be ready from pitch one to really compete, really put together good at bats," head coach Sean McNally said. "Coming into a series at home-to come out and be emotional and passionate and energetic right from the get-go-I think that's the key for us."
In the last three weekends, the Blue Devils have beaten then-No. 1 Florida State, then-No. 3 Virginia and No. 3 North Carolina. Yet they have struggled when anyone but Bajoczky is pitching, mustering just 2.2 runs per game and allowing 8.2 in their six losses.
"It'd be nice to put it all together on Friday night and gain some momentum going into Saturday with Tony on the mound," senior Jonathan Anderson said. "And then continue on Sunday and win two, three games this weekend-that would definitely be a plus for us."
Despite facing an easier opponent in unranked Maryland, winning the series will not be an easy task for Duke. The Blue Devils are coming off a 6-0 loss to UNC-Greensboro in which they managed just five hits and failed to find any offensive rhythm.
Adding to Duke's woes is its apparent middle infield problem. Shortstop Gabriel Saade did not play Tuesday, and second baseman Ryan McCurdy-who filled in for Saade at short-injured his shoulder while diving for a ground ball.
Kyle Butler played second base Tuesday, and third baseman Brett Bartles may play shortstop-his position last year-if necessary.
"I feel like I can play there if I need to, if that's what the team needs," Bartles said.
Regardless of their lineup, the Blue Devils will need to address their offensive struggles if they are to take their first three-game series since March 4 and put themselves in better position to make the eight-team ACC tournament May 23-27.
"It would definitely be really big for us to come out with two or three wins," Anderson said. "[It would] give us a better shot of creeping into the top eight and making the ACC tournament, which is where we want to be-because if we make that, who knows where the season can go?"
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