GREENSBORO, N.C. – Originally scheduled to host North Carolina A&T at 4 p.m. this Tuesday, the Spartans saw their originally slated opponents back out of this week's midweek contest, but have filled their now open schedule with ACC opponent Duke. The Spartans will play the Blue Devils at the same time this Tuesday, but will now be the visiting side, as the pair competes at Jack Coombs Field in Durham.
UNCG already has two wins against ACC opponents in 2021, defeating NC State and Virginia Tech earlier in the year. The Spartans actually have more wins against ACC opponents than the Wolfpack this year, and are tied with current ACC members Virginia and Wake Forest for wins against teams from that conference.
Who: Duke
Where: Jack Coombs Field | Durham, N.C.
When: Tuesday, March 23 | 4 p.m.
Probables: UNCG; RHP Brendan Collins (2-0, 5.25) v Duke; TBD (0-0, 0.00)
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HOW'S THEIR FORM?
-- UNCG is coming off three straight losses to open SoCon play, with conference preseason favorite Samford taking all three of last weekend's competitions. The Spartans do enter this Tuesday undefeated in the midweek, having already downed previously ranked No. 12 NC State and No. 13 Virginia Tech
-- Duke avoided a conference sweep of their own this Sunday, beating Notre Dame in the pair's series finale, 2-0. The Blue Devils sit an even 8-8 on the year and 4-3 in non-conference play
SCOUTING THE SPARTANS
-- UNCG added another two triples to its season total on Sunday, with Josh Madole and Zack Budzik each collecting one in the series finale against Samford. The Spartans now have 10 triples on the year, to rank second in the nation. They trail only New Mexico State, who has 11
-- Corey Rosier is second in the nation, having collected three of his team's 10 triples on the year. He leads the SoCon in hits (30) and has a knock in each of his last seven appearances. His 23 RBI are a team-high as he's already had four three-plus knock performances in 2021
-- UNCG's 33 stolen bases are just second in the SoCon, but rank 12th in all of Division I baseball. The Spartans are led by Zack Budzik, who has nine and is yet to get caught stealing this year. Budzik's 9-for-9 stolen base attempts leads the conference and sits 15th in the nation
-- The Spartans have already drawn 101 walks on the year, putting them 16th in the country. Madole and Pres Cavenaugh have 16 apiece to put themselves in a tie for second in the SoCon, while Cavenaugh has drawn five bases on balls in the past four games alone
SCOUTING DUKE
-- Duke has collected 43 doubles on the year to put themselves ninth in the nation, led by Michael Rothenberg's six. Three Blue Devils have five doubles on the year, including senior Joey Loperfido, who leads Duke with a .316 average and is currently on a six-game hitting streak
-- Righty Jimmy Loper currently holds a 0.87 ERA over five appearances and 10.1 innings of work. He is responsible for one of Duke's five saves in 2021 and holds a K/9 of 13.9 overall
SERIES HISTORY
-- The Spartans are 5-11 against Duke all-time, but have not played the side since 2016
-- The Blue Devils have taken each of their past two meetings against UNCG, with the Spartans emerging victorious on a 12-inning walk off victory in Greensboro back in 2014
#letsgoG
