VIRGINIA CAVALIERS (9-4)
Probable Starting Rotation
Fri. – Jr. RHP Connor Jones (2-0, 2.79 ERA)
Sat. – Fr. LHP Daniel Lynch (1-1, 4.76 ERA)
Sun. – So. RHP Tommy Doyle (1-1, 3.32 ERA)
DUKE BLUE DEVILS (8-5)
Probable Starting Rotation
Fri. – Jr. RHP Bailey Clark (2-0, 1.96 ERA)
Sat. – R-Sr. LHP Trent Swart (1-0, 0.56 ERA)
Sun. – Gr. RHP Brian McAfee (1-1, 5.68 ERA)
The Virginia baseball team opens ACC play Friday through Sunday (March 11-13) when it travels to Duke for a three-game series at Durham Bulls Athletic Park in Durham, N.C. Game 1 of the series is set for 4 p.m. Friday. The teams also are scheduled to play at 1 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
Broadcast Information
ESPN3 will carry the online broadcast Friday, while GoDuke.com will have video broadcasts for the Saturday and Sunday games. A subscription is required for the GoDuke.com broadcasts. WINA 1070-AM and 98.9-FM and VirginiaSports.com will have the UVA radio broadcasts for the full series. Links to live statistics for the three games also can be found on VirginiaSports.com.
Cavaliers in the Rankings
10 – Baseball America, 14 – NCBWA, 18 – D1Baseball, USA Today Coaches
Things to Know
• UVA has scored at least four runs in 12 of its 13 games this season.
• 67 of UVA’s 157 hits have come with two outs (42.7 percent)
• UVA hitters are batting .376 with two outs.
• Virginia has outscored its opponents 74-19 in the first five innings of games this season.
• Since an 0-for-12 start, Ryan Karstetter is 8-for-17 (.471).
• UVA’s freshmen are batting a combined .294 (54-184).
Virginia-Duke Series
Virginia holds a 96-55-1 edge in its all-time series with Duke. UVA is 29-9 against Duke under the current coaching staff (since 2004) and has won 18 of the last 21 contests against the Blue Devils dating to 2009. Since 2009 UVA has won its last seven series against Duke.
Lifting the Lid on the ACC Season
Virginia has won its opening ACC series in each of the last seven seasons. UVA last lost an ACC-opening series in 2008 when it dropped two of three games at NC State. This marks the third straight year UVA has opened ACC play in the Triangle. The Cavaliers started the 2014 campaign against Duke at Jack Coombs Field and played Pitt in Cary last year in a series moved from Charlottesville because of inclement weather.
Noting Duke
Duke is 8-5 on the season following a 2-1 home loss to Penn State on Wednesday. Zack Kone (.327) and Jimm Herron (.320) lead Duke in batting, while the Blue Devils are batting .246 as a team. Duke’s pitching staff has been stout thus far, boasting a 2.48 team ERA while limiting its opponents to a .193 batting average. In its current homestand, Duke has limited each of its opponents to two runs or fewer.
Big Five Highlight Top of Order
Virginia has leaned on five veterans to anchor its batting order this year. Adam Haseley, Ernie Clement, Matt Thaiss, Pavin Smith and Daniel Pinero have hit 1-5 in all 13 games this season. They are batting a combined .361 thus far and have 90 of the team’s 157 hits (57 percent) and 67 of the 109 runs (61 percent).
Freshmen Settling into Lineup
Much like 2015, Virginia has relied on a host of freshmen as part of its regular lineup. UVA has started at least three freshmen in the field in every game, including three games with four rookie starters. Andy Weber leads the freshmen with a .293 batting average while playing third base in 12 of 13 games.
Up Next
Virginia returns home next week for a two-game midweek series against Towson and Tuesday and Wednesday. UVA entertains Wake Forest next weekend (March 18-20) in ACC play.
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