Blue Devils to Face No. 1 Florida State Seminoles

at Florida State * Dick Howser Stadium * March 10-12 * Tallahassee, Fla.

Duke (5-13 overall) will begin its ACC season as it travels to Tallahassee, Fla. to play consensus No. 1 Florida State Friday, Saturday and Sunday at Dick Howser Stadium. No. 1 Florida State (19-2 as of Tuesday, March 7) enters the weekend ranked No. 1 in the nation in all three polls- Baseball America, Collegiate Baseball and Baseball Weekly/ABCA. The Seminoles are currently on a 13-game winning streak upon entering their Wednesday game against Siena.

Duke is 14-40 all-time against Florida State. The last time Duke defeated the Seminoles was a 4-3 victory on March 23, 1997 at Duke's Jack Coombs Field.

MEDIA COVERAGE
Sunday's game will be broadcasted on live TV by Sunshine Network in Florida. Sunshine Network's Gene Deckerhoff and Link Jarrett will make the call. The game cannot be viewed in North Carolina. All three games will be broadcasted on live radio in Tallahassee on Sportsradio WNLS-AM (1270-AM). Jim Crosby and Lee Bowen will provide play-by-play and color commentary.

The Dick Howser Stadium press box number is (940) 644-1553.

HILLIER BEGINS FIRST YEAR AT HELM
Duke head coach Bill Hillier earned his first victory at the helm of the Blue Devil baseball program in Duke's second game against Georgetown. Hillier, a former Duke assistant coach for seven seasons, began his new job this summer.

Hillier comes back to Duke after serving five seasons as head coach of the UNC-Asheville program. Twenty-four of his players have been drafted by Major League Baseball squads and four of his former players including Quinton McCracken, Mike Trombley, Ryan Jackson and Scott Schoeneweis (all Duke players) have enjoyed big league careers.

BECKER BREAKS DUKE'S CAREER DOUBLES RECORDS
Jeff Becker broke the Duke school career doubles record Tuesday at East Carolina with his 61st double. He breaks the old record of 60 set by Vaughn Schill (1997-99) and Michael Fletcher (1995-98).

BECKER SETS CAREER HITS RECORD
Senior Jeff Becker set his first career offensive record as he registered his 278th career hit vs. Elon on Sunday. The hit shattered the former record of 277 held by All America and 1994 Collegiate Baseball Player of the Year Ryan Jackson (1991-94). He accomplished the feat after only 19 games and has well over half a season to increase his total.

THE BECKER RECORDWATCH
Following Tuesday's game at East Carolina, Jeff Becker now owns a total of three Duke statistical baseball records- season hit by pitch (12 in 1998), career hits (280) and career doubles (61). In all, Becker should own Duke career records in eight of the 14 available statistical categories.

He is nearing Duke career records in runs scored (194/record is 203), bases on balls (120/record is 126), games played (201/record is 219), games started (201/record is 218) and runs batted in (161/record is 198). See chart on page two.

NEW FENCE AT JACK COOMBS FIELD
A new outfield fence has been installed at Duke's baseball field, Jack Coombs Field. Painted green and made of wood, the fence also includes bright yellow foul poles. Other plans in the near future include renovations of a baseball office/batting cage/skybox structure along the third base line.

Jack Coombs Field, named after the legendary Duke baseball coach, was orginally created in 1931 and is modeled after Shibe Park in Philadelphia.

JEFF BECKER RECORD WATCH
This chart depicts where All America candidate Jeff Becker stands on various Duke career offensive charts. Becker is on pace to break all of these career offensive records by the end of the season:

STAT Current Record, Recordholder
Games Played: 201 219, Michael Fletcher
Games Started: 201 218, Frankie Chiou
At Bats: 793 859, Ryan Jackson
Runs: 194 203, Frankie Chiou
Hits: 280 277, Ryan Jackson
Doubles: 61 60, Vaughn Schill
Home Runs: 28 42, Ryan Jackson
RBI: 161 198, Gregg Maluchnik
Bases on balls: 120 126, Frankie Chiou

NO. 21/23 EAST CAROLINA RALLIES TO DEFEAT DUKE 7-6
Duke's Jeff Becker breaks school career doubles record
GREENVILLE, N.C. -- Justin Ward's bases loaded single in the bottom of the ninth capped off a three-run rally as East Carolina stormed back from a 6-4 deficit to defeat Duke 7-6 Tuesday at Harrington Field. The loss drops Duke to 5-14 on the season while East Carolina improves to 13-3. The Pirates began the week ranked No. 21 in Collegiate Baseball and No. 23 in Baseball America.

East Carolina took advantage of three hits and a Duke error to score three runs in the bottom of the ninth for the victory. Lee Delfino led off the ninth with a home run for East Carolina. John Williamson walked followed by a Chad Tracy RBI double to tie it up at 6-6. After pinch hitter Justin Hyde was intentionally walked, Cliff Godwin's ground ball forced a Duke error which loaded the bases. The Blue Devils got the second out of the inning when they got the runner at home on Erik Bakich's ground ball. Bryant Ward followed with an RBI single to give East Carolina the 7-6 victory.

Duke senior Jeff Becker doubled for the ninth time this season and the 61st of his career to break the Duke career doubles record. He breaks the former record of 60 held by two players- Vaughn Schill (1997-99) and Michael Fletcher (1995-98).

Blue Devil starter Ryan Caradonna threw 8.0 innings and allowed 12 hits, five runs (five earned) and struck out four batters. He left after Delfino's ninth inning home run. Reliever Kevin Perry (0-2) took the loss for Duke after throwing 0.1 innings and allowing two hits and one run.

On offense Duke was led by Becker's 2-4, two run, two RBI and Doug Bechtold's 2-4, two run performances. J.D. Alleva hit his first home run of the season, a lead off home run in the sixth inning.

Duke built its lead after battling back from a 4-0 deficit. The Blue Devils scored three runs in the third inning on Alleva's RBI groundout, Becker's RBI double and an East Carolina error. The Blue Devils took the lead at 5-4 after Alleva's solo home run and David Mason's RBI single in the sixth. Duke added a run in the seventh when Becker was hit by pitch with the bases loaded.

East Carolina reliever Kieran Mattison (1-0) earned the victory after throwing the final 2.0 innings. Starter Scott Greene pitched 5.1 innings for the Pirates.

ELON SLIPS PAST DUKE 12-9
Blue Devils to play at East Carolina on Tuesday
DURHAM, N.C. -- Elon jumped out to an early lead and held on for a 12-9 victory Sunday against Duke at Elon's Newsome Field. The victory dropped Duke to 5-13 overall and improved Elon to 13-4 overall.

Elon went up 5-1 as it scored two runs apiece in the fourth and fifth innings. The Fightin' Christians took a 10-3 lead with five runs in the seventh but Duke stormed back to with six runs in the eighth. Elon added two insurance runs in the bottom of the eighth on Jim Swenson's RBI single and Whit Bryant's RBI groundout to seal the victory.

Elon's Nathan Holcomb (4-0) earned the victory on the mound after throwing 7.0 innings, striking out seven batters and allowing three hits and three runs (one earned run). Luke Pangle pitched the final 1.1 innings to earn his second save.

The game saw a total of 11 errors and seven unearned runs between the two squads.

Duke was led by J.D. Alleva's and Jeff Becker's 2-4 performances. Pitcher Kevin Thompson drove in two RBI on a single in the eighth inning and threw 0.2 innings of relief. Duke's Steve Schroeder (2-4) took the loss after striking out four batters, allowing nine hits and five runs (four earned) in 5.0 innings pitched. Other pitchers used by Duke included Larry Broadway (1.1 innings), Kevin Thompson (0.2 innings), Austin Fearnow (0.0 innings) and Brad DuPree (1.0 innings).

Elon was led by Jim Swenson's 3-5, two RBI, two run and Brian Kane's 3-5, three RBI two run performances. Garth Lanning also drove in three RBI on a 2-3 day.

TWO-WAY PLAYERS
Head coach Bill Hillier makes full use of his 20-man roster. Several are two-way players including pitcher/designated hitter Ryan Caradonna, pitcher/infielder Jeff Alleva (has played second bas) and pitcher/first baseman Larry Broadway. Pitcher Kevin Thompson even drove in two runs in his first collegiate pinch-hitting debut at Elon.

BECKER IN FIFTH YEAR AT DUKE
Jeff Becker returns to the Duke baseball squad for a fifth year. Becker was granted a medical redshirt after playing in only nine games last year due to a foot injury. He was drafted as a junior but decided to finish up his career at Duke and return for his senior season. Just nine games into his senior season, Becker went down with a foot injury that sidelined him for the rest of the season. A three-year All ACC player and 1996 ACC Freshman of the Year, Becker is an All America candidate in his final year as a Blue Devil. He should also be drafted high in the 2000 MLB Draft.

COACH HILLIER EXTENDS DUKE COACHING CAREER
Head coach Bill Hillier is in his first year as head Duke baseball coach. He blends a glimpse of Duke baseball past along with dedicated focus on the future as he served as an assistant coach with the Blue Devils from 1988-1994. From Duke, he became the UNC Asheville for five seasons (1995-1999). He has high hopes for the program and plans several facility improvements. Hillier has coached virtually every big-name player to pass through the Duke baseball program. It is that knowledge of the program's history combined with his vision of the program's future is what will undoubtedly make the program a success.

DUKE FAMILY COMBINATIONS
Duke baseball has two sets of brothers and a father-son duo. Second baseman Jeff Alleva and righthanded pitcher Jeff Alleva are brothers and sons of Athletic Director Joe Alleva. Righthanded pitcher/DH Ryan Caradonna is the older brother of starting catcher Troy Caradonna. The duo is also a battery on the mound and behind the plate. Assistant coach Bill Hillier, Jr. is the son of head coach Bill Hillier. Duke also has two Thompsons on the roster- Gideon and Kevin. They are not related.

JACK COOMBS FIELD UPGRADE
Hillier has big plans for Jack Coombs Field. Already a new fence, warning track and foul poles have been installed. Other plans include increased bleacher seating, renovations of the batting cages.

BLUE DEVILS SIGN EIGHT PLAYERS FOR 2000-01 SEASON
Hillier touts class as best-ever in Duke school history
DURHAM, N.C. -- The Duke baseball program signed eight players to National-Letters of Intent Blue Devil head coach Bill Hillier announced Monday. All eight players will enter as freshmen at Duke University in the 2000-01 school year.

Hillier, who served six seasons (1988-1994) as an assistant baseball coach at Duke, touts his first recruiting class as head coach at Duke as one of the best ever.

"Our 1991 group was about as good talent-wise but they didn't have the arms that this class has," Hillier said. "You never know about recruiting classes until after two or three years but this class is the best-ever recruited to Duke."

Duke recruiting coordinator Erik Filipek was also happy with the eight signees.

"We believe this class can help us build a national power here at Duke," Duke baseball recruiting coordinator Erik Filipek said. "We signed five pitchers that will make an immediate impact- two of them being two-way guys. With the legitimate position players we signed, we feel we've made each area on the field more competitive. Overall, we're excited to bring in the caliber of athletes we signed."

The eight signees are from eight different states. Several are two-way players. Following is information on Duke's eight baseball signees:

EVAN ANDERSON
(P/OF, 6-4, 190, Norman, Okla./Norman) Enters senior season at Norman H.S. in Norman, Okla. ... threw three-hitter vs. California in the Sunbelt Classic ... named Team One All Star Showcase Classic as a junior; selected for Area Code Games All Star Game by Chicago White Sox ... finished 1999 season with 137 strikeouts in 97 innings ... struck out six out of 12 batters faced in Area Code Games tryout ... registered 15 strikeouts vs. Putnam City Western in 3-1 win and finished with 13 strikeouts in 3-2 win against Edmund North last year ... chose Duke because of its combination of academics/athletics ... plans to attend medical school.

COLIN BEGLEY
(P/OF, 6-3, 215, Nashville, Tenn./Hume-Fogg) Enters senior season at Hume-Fogg H.S. in Nashville, Tenn. ... named All District, All Middle Tennessee as a junior ... Team One competitor ... All GNBA team and Most Valuable Player.

GREG BURKE
(P/INF, 6-4, 180, Bellmawr, N.J./Gloucester Cath.) Enters senior season at Gloucester Catholic in Bellmawr, N.J. ... named all conference, all parochial, All South New Jersey and All State as a junior last year ... earned pitching victories in three of four state playoff victories including a 13-strikeout performance in semi-final and four-hit performance in state final ... played in All Star Game for Carpenter Cup for Tri-Cape team (5 K's in 2 IP) ... led Brooklawn team to American Legion World Series in 1998 and 1999.

JUSTIN CALLIHAM
(OF, 6-1, 195, Myrtle Beach, S.C./Myrtle Beach) Enters senior season at Myrtle Beach H.S. ... earned All Region, Honorable Mention Toast of the Coast Team and 1998 Hawaiian Tropic All Tournament team honors ...accumulated 30 base hit bunts in first three years of high school baseball ... led team all three years in stolen bases ... three-year starter at centerfield ... played for Carolina Clippers, traveling All Star team this past summer ... batting leader and stolen base leader on American Eagles, national team based in San Diego, Calif.

JUSTIN DILUCCHIO
(P/INF, 6-4, 200, Paoli, Pa./Episcopal Academy) Enters senior season at Episcopal Academy in Merion, Pa. ... 1999 Honorable Mention Philadelphia All City ... 1999 All Star InterAc Team ... selected to compete in Area Code Tryouts ... led Episcopal Academy to Interac League championship for first time in 50 years ... pitched most innings and had most wins on squad last year ... earned Bronze Medal at Penn. State Keystone Games ... also played in several other All Star tournaments ... plays basketball .

DREW JERDAN
(UTIL, 6-5, 220, Marietta, Ga./Wheeler) Enters senior season at Wheeler H.S. in Marietta, Ga. ... named 1998 All City in Atlanta ... named East Cobb Astros MVP in 1995-1997 ... named East Cobb Astros best pitcher in 1998 and Wheeler H.S. best pitcher in 1999 ... threw one-hit shutout in regional championship and hit home run to lead team to 1-0 victory as a sophomore ... threw one-hit shutout to get into AAU World Series championship game ... selected to several all tournament teams in AAU baseball ... father, Myles Jerdan, played basketball at Northwestern (1967-71).

ADAM LOFTIN
(C/INF, 6-0, 190, Raleigh, N.C./Leesville) Enters senior season at Leesville H.S. in Raleigh, N.C. ... named all conference as a sophomore and junior and honorable mention all conference as a freshman ... set school records for most hits in a game and consecutive hits ... selected to All-Babe Ruth World Series team in 1994 ... named to 1999 Bobby Murray Invitational All Tournament team and went 6-10 with two home runs.

BRYAN SMITH
(INF, 6-0, 185, Longwood, Fla./Lake Brantley) Enters senior season at Lake Brantley H.S. in Altamonte Springs, Fla. ... named to two all tournament teams- All Big Blue Bonanza and Cypress Creek Orlando Classic teams ... played in All Star Tournament in Boca Raton, Fla. and went 11-22 with seven doubles and eight RBI ... team captain for both baseball and football ... has played quarterback on football team for three seasons.

Blue Devils to Face No. 1 Florida State Seminoles

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