DURHAM, N.C. - (www.NCCUEaglePride.com)- North Carolina Central University continues its eight-game homestand to begin the 2012 season as the Eagles host crosstown foe Duke University on Wednesday, Feb. 22 at 4:00 p.m. at historic Durham Athletic Park.
 
This will mark meeting No. 10 between Duke and NCCU since 2008 with the Blue Devils holding a 9-0 advantage over the Eagles taking both contests last season 11-2 at the DAP on Feb. 23, 2011, and 11-3 at Jack Coombs Field on March 15, 2011.
 
Head coach Jim Koerner will send junior lefty Michael Romano (0-0, 0.00 ERA) to the mound for the Eagles.  The Spotsylvania, Va. native threw two-and-one-third innings this past weekend against UNC Asheville allowing two hits and striking out two Bulldog batters.
 
After one weekend of play, Nate Smith (Raleigh, N.C.) came away from the series against UNCA batting .364 with three doubles and a stolen base, while junior transfer Luis Diaz (Geneva, N.Y.) ended the weekend batting .300 with one home run and a team-high four RBI.  Senior Etienne Farquharson (Cape Canaveral, Fla.) went two-for-four in the second game of Saturday’s doubleheader with an RBI.
 
Duke will enter Wednesday’s affair on the heels of a contest with Campbell, and comes off a weekend series against No. 13 Texas where the Blue Devils took the series finale against the perennial power 5-2 behind excellent pitching from sophomore right-hander Robert Huber, who earned ACC Pitcher of the Week with his career-high six strikeouts against the Longhorns.
 
First pitch from the Durham Athletic Park is set for 4:00 p.m.  Admission is free at the Durham Athletic Park.
 
Stay up-to-date with North Carolina Central University baseball by flying over to the official website of North Carolina Central University Athletics, www.NCCUEaglePride.com.