Duke baseball opens season with series victory over Coastal Carolina

Duke baseball opened the 2021 season with a series victory. 

The Duke baseball season is officially underway, and the Blue Devils opened their 2021 campaign with a series victory over Coastal Carolina (1-2).

Led by head coach Chris Pollard, the Blue Devils (2-1) will continue their quest for the College World Series after reaching the Super Regional in the last two postseasons before last year was postponed in mid-March because of the coronavirus pandemic.

After the anticipated date of the season opener was delayed one day due to weather, Duke throttled the Chanticleers on Saturday afternoon, winning 12-4.

Cooper Stinson (1-0) picked up the victory after throwing five innings, allowing two hits and three runs, one earned, with three walks and three strikeouts.

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Richard Brereton (0-0) and Marcus Johnson (0-0) pitched the final four innings, allowing just one hit and one run.

Duke looked like it was on its way to two straight victories on Sunday during its first doubleheader, leading by four entering the bottom of the 9th, but a walk-off grand slam by Parker Chavers plated the fifth run of the inning as the Blue Devils fell, 8-7.

Coastal Carolina continued swinging its hot bats in the second half of the doubleheader, scoring five runs in the bottom of the 1st inning against Jack Carey (0-0), but Duke would score the next eight runs of the game, winning 10-9.

Nick Conte (1-0) picked up the victory for the Blue Devils, and Jimmy Allen (1) secured the save.

Duke baseball looks to add victory before ACC play

The Blue Devils will play one last game in its season-opening road trip before returning home for a slew of games.

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Duke will travel to East Carolina for a mid-week matchup before beginning conference play against Boston College on Friday.

After its matchup with the Pirates, Duke will play 12 straight home games, including three ACC three-game series.