DURHAM, N.C. – Entering his fourth season at the helm of the Duke baseball program, head coach Chris Pollard has announced the Blue Devils’ 2016 schedule.
The Blue Devils face a challenging slate as 31 of Duke’s 55 contests are against teams that registered 30 or more wins a season ago and seventeen of Duke’s 25 opponents notched winning records this past season. In addition, the Blue Devils’ 2016 schedule also consists of 23 games versus 2015 NCAA Tournament participants, including series against California, Virginia, North Carolina, Clemson, Miami, NC State and Florida State.
“Without question, we are playing one of the toughest schedules in the country next spring,” said Pollard. “We just completed a really successful fall season and I’m excited for our guys as we use this offseason program to prepare for a very challenging 2016 campaign.”
Coming off its second consecutive 30-win season, Duke opens the spring against 2015 NCAA Regional team California at the Durham Bulls Athletic Park Feb. 19-21. The Blue Devils took two-of-three from the Golden Bears, who went on to post a 33-18 overall record, in 2014’s season-opening series in Berkeley, Calif.
“The three-game series with Cal will undoubtedly be one of the most anticipated season-opening series in all of college baseball,” Pollard added.
The Cal series marks the first of 33 home games slated for the upcoming season, including 27 contests at the Durham Bulls Athletic Park and six at Jack Coombs Field.
Duke opens its ACC schedule against 2015 NCAA National Champion Virginia March 11-13 at the DBAP. The Blue Devils’ remaining home conference series feature games against North Carolina (March 18-20), Clemson (April 8-10), Miami (April 15-17) and Florida State (May 13-15).
The Blue Devils hit the road for league series at Wake Forest (March 25-27), Georgia Tech (April 1-3), Virginia Tech (April 22-24), NC State (April 29-May 1) and Pittsburgh (May 19-21).
Duke does not play ACC opponents Boston College, Louisville or Notre Dame during the 2016 regular season.
In nonconference action, Duke hosts Campbell (Feb. 23), Davidson (March 1), Toledo (March 4-6), Penn State (March 9), UMES (March 15), East Carolina (March 22), Liberty (March 29), UNC Greensboro (April 5), NC Central (April 13), Gardner-Webb (May 8 – DH), Longwood (May 10) and Norfolk State (May 11).
The Blue Devils also travel to Coastal Carolina’s Baseball at the Beach Tournament Feb. 26-28, taking on Ohio State, Liberty and the host Chanticleers. Duke’s road non-conference slate includes games at Campbell (March 2), Davidson (April 12), Liberty (April 19) and NC Central (April 27).
With a 31-22 overall record in 2015, Duke recorded 30-plus wins for the 12th time in program history and back-to-back 30 win seasons for the first time since 2008-09. Pollard is the first Blue Devil head coach to guide the program to two 30-win seasons in his first three campaigns as head coach.
The Blue Devils return 23 letterwinners from the 2015 roster while welcoming 15 newcomers.
2016 Duke Baseball Schedule (PDF)
