The NCAA selected its 16 regional hosts for the college baseball postseason bracket on Sunday evening, and they passed by the Blue Devils.
The Blue Devils spent most of the season within the top 15 on most national rankings, but they lost seven of their final 13 regular-season games to slip down to the sixth seed in the ACC and the No. 2 seed line in most national projections.
However, with their backs to the wall, Duke ripped off four straight wins in Charlotte to win the ACC Tournament. The Blue Devils scored 43 runs over the four tournament games, winning their last three contests by a combined score of 32-7 en route to a resounding statement.
Many thought the NCAA would take notice of the performance, especially considering the depth of the ACC. After all, five ACC teams (North Carolina, Clemson, Florida State, Virginia, and NC State) all earned the chance to host.
Duke defeated the Wolfpack during pool play in the ACC Tournament before beating the Seminoles by 12 runs in Sunday’s title game.
The Blue Devils await their assignment as a No. 2 seed, and they’ve been heavily linked to East Carolina in the Greenville Region in most projections.