DURHAM - Duke left-handed pitcher Christopher Manno, in the midst of a 12 2/3-inning scoreless streak, earned national recognition from three different sources this week.

The National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) named the sophomore from Brooklyn, N.Y., its National Pitcher of the Week. Ping! Baseball tabbed him its Spotlight Performer of the Week. Manno also earned a spot in the College Baseball Foundation's Weekly All-Star Lineup.

He puts the streak on the line at 1 p.m. today against Maryland at Jack Coombs Field. The three-game ACC series concludes with a 1 p.m. game Sunday.

The honor was noteworthy for both Manno and Duke. He is just the third Duke pitcher, along with Mike Kotarski (1992) and Kevin Thompson (2003), to earn national recognition.

Duke coach Sean McNally, brought in three years ago to revamp the program after a bleak stretch under former coach Bill Hillier, agrees that the national publicity shows that Duke (29-14-1), on track to win 30 games for the first time in 10 years, is making strides.

"Our program, more and more, is in the conversation," McNally said. "People are talking about the guys in the program. It generates attention and attracts more kids. Also, it's great for our kids now. Across the board, one of the things I'm most proud of is how hard they work."

Manno (4-0 in eight starts) earned the national recognition by working two scoreless innings in a combined no-hitter over N.C. Central on April 15 and striking out 12 Clemson batters in 5 2/3 scoreless innings of work in a 10-1 Duke win on April 19.

Manno, who leads the ACC in strikeouts per nine innings (14.22), wasn't paying much attention to the streak on Friday. Asked what's working for him, he said, "My defense."

"Yeah, it helps that I'm striking out a lot of guys, but the defense behind me is unbelievable," Manno said. "They're picking me up all the time."

That's how McNally had mapped it out when he arrived in 2006. He said he knew the quickest way to make up ground in the tough ACC was to focus on pitching and defense.

In 2008, Duke is one of the best defensive teams in the ACC and its pitching staff, led by Andrew Wolcott (2.92 ERA), has the ACC's fourth best and the nation's 15th-best ERA (3.47).

Backed by second-year pitching coach Sean Snedeker, who, like McNally, cut his coaching teeth in the minor leagues, the Blue Devils also lead the ACC and rank 14th nationally in walks allowed per game (2.77).

The numbers are good enough that Duke has a chance to take another big step: earn a spot in the ACC Tournament. Duke was in 10th place, 1 1/2 games behind eighth-place Maryland (8-14) after Friday's 12-8 loss to the Terrapins.

After Maryland, the Devils (6-14-1) play the other teams that stand in their way for the eighth and final spot in the tournament field -- Wake Forest (7-14) and Boston College (5-17).

Duke has not played in the ACC tournament since 2004.

"Our season is in our hands right now," Manno said. "If we win, we're in. If we keep doing what we're doing, if we play Duke baseball, we'll get the job done."