Pirates hit bump in road

It has been a tough week for East Carolina.

After going 3-3 against Virginia and South Carolina, a pair of top-10 teams nationally, the Pirates (9-7) went 1-3 on a four-game road trip to California against Cal State Northridge and Pepperdine. And then on Wednesday night, ECU lost 13-12 at High Point.

Pirates coach Billy Godwin said his team is having trouble putting together a complete game.

"We pitch well, but we can't hit, or the other way around," Godwin said in a phone interview Thursday.

The biggest question mark heading into the season was whether a team that lost a good chunk of a strong top-to-bottom lineup would be able to replace those bats. Underclassmen have stepped up, but a few veterans have struggled.

"We need the guys that we know have been there and done that to be there and do it," Godwin said.

In the past six games, the team's fielding percentage has dropped from .981 to .965. The Pirates committed 13 errors and gave up 10 unearned runs during that span.

"It just seems like every time we make an error or make a mistake, it's a big one," Godwin said. "We get hurt by it."

The Pirates started the season ranked higher than any other team in the state. And they still could make the deepest run of any North Carolina school in the NCAA tournament this season.

"We have a good team," Godwin said. "That hasn't changed. Our players haven't become bad players all of the sudden."

Homes away from home

Officially, Jack Coombs Field is the home of Duke baseball, but the Blue Devils haven't played a game there this season.

With 18 home games planned for Durham Bulls Athletic Park, Duke scheduled 13 contests at Coombs, where there's a drainage problem in left field.

If the forecast even hints at rain, the game is moved to a practice field at Cary's USA Baseball Training Complex, where the Blue Devils have played three games.

Arm of the Week

Duke junior reliever Ben Grisz sparkled in the final three innings Sunday against North Carolina.

Bat of the Week

Duke sophomore Will Piwnica-Worms improved his batting average from .256 to .311 in a week's time, with a homer, a triple, a double and the winning hit in the 11th inning Wednesday in a 3-2 victory over Liberty.

Rookie of the Week

East Carolina freshman infielder John Wooten was 9-for-21 at the plate this week, including a homer, a double and four RBIs.

Three to watch

Florida State at North Carolina, 7 p.m. today

Miami at Duke (DBAP), 2 p.m. Saturday

High Point at East Carolina, 6 p.m. Tuesday