Feb. 21, 2008
The 2008 Duquesne baseball team opens play this weekend as they travel to 12th-ranked (Collegiate Baseball Newspaper and USA Today/ESPN Coaches) Florida State for a three-game series. The Dukes and Seminoles are scheduled to play Friday at 4:00 pm, Saturday at 2:00 pm and Sunday at 12:30 pm.
Update: The 2008 season opener opener has been rescheduled as part of a doubleheader on Saturday. Friday's game was postponed due to severe weather in the Tallahassee area.
Due to a later than usual University spring break, the Dukes will not make their traditional 10-day trip to Florida, but rather will face what could be the most difficult schedule in school history and possibly the most challenging opening 10 games in the country. After the Dukes trip to Tallahassee, the Red and Blue will make weekend treks to 30th ranked LSU and #2 South Carolina with a mid-week game at West Virginia mixed in as well.
On offense, the Dukes are led by senior first baseman Aaron Janusey, senior outfielder Eric Morrison and junior infielder Bill Torre. Janusey led the Dukes in batting average last season at .318 and also led with 17 doubles, seven home runs and 51 RBI. Torre is next among returnees in average at .309 with a team best 47 runs scored. He added 12 doubles, four home runs, 33 RBI and 11 stolen bases. Morrison led the Dukes with 20 stolen bases while adding 10 doubles, 36 runs scored and 26 RBI.
On the mound, the Red and Blue will look to juniors Gary Pierpont and Ryan Juran to anchor the staff. Pierpont made 11 starts in 13 appearances in 2007, with three wins, a 5.35 ERA and 33 strikeouts in 65 2/3 innings. Juran was 2-1 with a 5.40 ERA in 15 appearances. He made two starts and fanned 27 batters in 38 1/3 innings of work.
The Seminoles are led by junior catcher Buster Posey who hit .382 with 65 RBI and 66 runs scored in 2007 and seniors Jack Rye (.372, 10 home runs, 61 RBI in 2007) and Ryan Strauss (10 wins, 3.40 ERA, 56 strikeouts).
Friday's pitching match-up will be Pierpont and right hander Elih Villanueva, Saturday will feature Juran against southpaw Matt Fairel and Sunday will see sophomore Paul Bugajski versus righty Mike McGee.
All three games at Florida State can be viewed online through ACC Select while Gametracker will also be available for all three contests. Fans can gain access to ACC Select by purchasing single event passes for $4.99 or the monthly all-event pass for $9.99. For more information on ACC Select, please go to www.accselect.com. Gametracker links and links to ACC Select can be found at www.GoDuquesne.com.
