Duke at Georgia Tech

ATLANTA (Interstat) — Duke visits Georgia Tech on Friday in an Atlantic Coast Conference baseball matchup at Russ Chandler Stadium. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m. with a forecast of 68 degrees and cloudy skies.

The Yellow Jackets (37-8 overall) carry the conference’s best record into the series opener. Georgia Tech has won four of its last five games, including a 14-6 victory over Xavier on Sunday. The Blue Devils (23-25) are coming off a 11-7 loss to Queens (N.C.) on Tuesday and have dropped eight of their last 10 contests.

Players to watch

Duke center fielder Michael DiMartini has shown power but inconsistency. He went 3-for-4 with two home runs and two RBIs against Queens, but has multiple hitless outings in his last 10 games, including an 0-for-2 performance against North Carolina on May 3.

Georgia Tech center fielder Drew Burress has been consistent at the plate. He is batting .400 (4-for-10) over his last two games with a home run and three RBIs. On April 21 against Georgia, Burress went 4-for-4 with three RBIs.

By the numbers

According to Interstat’s game simulator, Georgia Tech is projected to win 7-1. The ELO system gives the Yellow Jackets a 65.3 percent probability of victory.

Georgia Tech’s pitching staff has been a strength, with Jackson Blakely (4 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 6 K) earning the win in the Xavier series finale.

Series implications

The teams continue the three-game set Saturday and Sunday. Duke then hosts William & Mary on May 12 before a home series against Wake Forest on May 14-16. Georgia Tech hosts Mercer on May 12 before traveling to Boston College for a three-game series beginning May 14.