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Duke Baseball: Blue Devils have a big week, with a bigger week looming

By Kevin Connelly

Omaha, NE - JUNE 25: A general view of TD Ameritrade Park as the grounds crew gets the field ready for game one of the College World Series Championship Series between the Arkansas Razorbacks and the Oregon State Beavers on June 25, 2018 at in Omaha, Nebraska. (Photo by Peter Aiken/Getty Images)
Omaha, NE - JUNE 25: A general view of TD Ameritrade Park as the grounds crew gets the field ready for game one of the College World Series Championship Series between the Arkansas Razorbacks and the Oregon State Beavers on June 25, 2018 at in Omaha, Nebraska. (Photo by Peter Aiken/Getty Images) /
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The Duke Baseball team had a very successful week and weekend, but perhaps the biggest week of the season is looming for the Blue Devils.

Coming off of a series sweep against Pittsburgh, the Duke Blue Devils continued its winning ways this week starting on Tuesday afternoon with a 7-5 win over North Carolina Central.

The Blue Devils would then get thrown a curveball by Mother Nature once again this weekend as a three game series that was supposed to be over three days against Virginia Tech had to be pushed to three games in two days.

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It started with a double headed on Saturday in which Duke was able to take the first game behind stellar performance from Ben Gross, Matt Dockman, and Thomas Girard on the mound as the trip combined for a shutout, leading the Blue Devils to a 4-0 win.

The second game of the series and double-header went to the Hokies as Virginia Tech handed Duke a 6-2 defeat.

The rubber game of the three game set went to the Blue Devils in a hitters delight, out powering the Hokies 9-5.

Duke was led by home-runs from Kennie Taylor, Kyle Gallagher, and Michael Rothenberg.

The wins this week improved the Blue Devils’ record to 20-16 overall and 8-10 in the ACC, but now the biggest and most daunting week of the season awaits Duke.

On Tuesday, the Blue Devils will welcome in the Texas Tech Red Raiders, the same team that knocked the Blue Devils out of the NCAA Tournament and prevented Duke from advancing to the College World Series last season in Game 3 of the Lubbock Super Regional.

Duke and Texas Tech are schedule for a 6:00pm ET first pitch at the Durham Bulls Athletic Park.

After that one game matchup, the Blue Devils will then travel south to South Carolina to face the Clemson Tigers in yet another crucial three game series this weekend.

First pitch on Friday is scheduled for 6:00pm ET, while Saturday should be a 3:00pm ET start, and Sunday a 1:00pm ET first pitch.

In the latest Division I NCAA Baseball Rankings, Texas Tech comes in at No. 22 this week while Clemson clocks in at No. 24,

With still plenty of work to be done to even think of a possible At-Large bid to the NCAA Tournament, the Blue Devils must come away with a winning record this week in its crucial matchups.

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