DURHAM, N.C. – Duke baseball head coach Chris Pollard has announced the Blue Devils’ 2015 schedule as the team is set for 56 regular season games in its third season under Pollard’s guidance.
The Blue Devils square off against 14 opponents who totaled 30 or more wins a season ago, while nearly half of Duke’s schedule consists of games against 2014 NCAA Tournament teams. Duke faces 11 squads that qualified for the NCAA Regionals, including Bryant, Campbell, Columbia and Liberty in non-conference action as well as ACC matchups against Clemson, Georgia Tech, Louisville, Miami, North Carolina and Virginia.
“We are certainly very excited for the start of the college baseball season which is now less than 100 days away,” said Pollard. “Year in and year out, the ACC is the best conference in college baseball and it will undoubtedly be strong once again this season.”
The Blue Devils have 34 home games slated for this upcoming season, including 25 contests at Jack Coombs Field and nine games at the Durham Bulls Athletic Park.
“We are thrilled to continue our relationship with Jim Goodmon, George Habel, Mike Birling, Josh Nance, Scott Strickland and the rest of the entire Durham Bulls organization,” Pollard said. “For our players to have the opportunity to play at one of the finest Triple-A ballparks in the country is a real privilege.”
Duke’s home series feature games against ACC foes Georgia Tech (Mar. 13-15), Pittsburgh (Mar. 20-22), Louisville (Apr. 10-12), Virginia Tech (Apr. 24-26) and Wake Forest (May 14-16).
In nonconference action, Duke hosts Rider (Feb. 27-Mar. 1), Liberty (Mar. 3), Yale (Mar. 10), Bryant (Mar. 11), Columbia (Mar. 17-18), Campbell (Mar. 31), Davidson (Apr. 7), Richmond (Apr. 8), UNC Greensboro (Apr. 14), N.C. Central (May 3 DH) and Longwood (May 12).
The Blue Devils are also set to host the second annual Duke Baseball Classic presented by Homewood Suites by Hilton RDU/RTP (Feb. 20-22). The four-team event features Delaware State, Hartford and Iona.
“The second annual Duke Baseball Classic will be a great way to start the 34-game home slate,” Pollard said. “I want to recognize all the support of Lynne Fuller and her staff at Homewood Suites RTP/RDU, Eric Campbell and the USA Baseball staff, along with the tremendous crew out at the National Training Complex. The classic will be a fun weekend of college baseball in the Triangle.”
A tough road schedule awaits the Blue Devils, beginning with a three-game series at California (Feb. 13-15) to start the season.
“With a cross-country trip to perennial Pac-12 power California, we will find out a lot about this club on the very first weekend of the season,” added Pollard.
The Blue Devils also travel to ACC opponents North Carolina (Mar. 6-8), Boston College (Mar. 27-29), Miami (Apr. 3-5), Clemson (Apr. 17-19) and Virginia (May 8-10). In addition, Duke visits non-conference foes UNC Greensboro (Feb. 24), Liberty (Mar. 24), East Carolina (Apr. 22) and Davidson (May 5).
The ACC Tournament is set for May 19-14 at the Durham Bulls Athletic Park.
Duke added 13 freshmen and returned 19 letterwinners from last season’s 33-25 squad. The 2014 Blue Devils finished fourth in the ACC with a 16-14 conference record, tying the program record for ACC wins in a season.
“This tremendous group of players has a unique mix of veteran leadership and youthful enthusiasm,” Pollard said. “I speak for everyone associated with our program when I say that Feb. 13 cannot get here quickly enough.”
