Duke's Damon Lux reveals what he saw on third-inning two-run HR in Super Regional win over Virginia

Duke nine-hole hitter Damon Lux delivered a big blast early for the Blue Devils in Friday’s Super Regional win over Virginia. The senior blasted a two-run home run in the third inning over the wall in left-center field for a 2-0 lead.

Lux homered off Virginia pitcher Nick Parker, doing so on an 0-2 pitch. He spoke with ESPN2 after Duke’s win about the at bat and what he was looking for.

“Honestly I was sitting cutter, because the scouting report said he threw a lot of cutters to righties. And that’s been his pitch all year,” Lux said. “So I was looking for it early. Didn’t get it early. And once I got to two strikes, I knew I had to battle off anything that was in the zone. And luckily 0-2, he left one knee high and I got a good swing on it.”

The home run was the 10th of the season for Lux and arguably his biggest. He finished the game 1-for-3 with a walk.

Despite the Lux home run, Duke still needed to rally late. Virginia led 4-3 entering the eighth inning, before the Blue Devils rallied to take a 5-4 lead. Virginia had two on with two out in the ninth inning, when Jake Gelof flied out to deep left field to end the game.

Duke OF Damon Lux has changed his mindset as a senior

This isn’t the first time that Lux has reached a super regional with Duke.

In 2019, Lux was on the Blue Devils squad that reached the super regionals. He spoke with ESPN2 about that experience and how his mindset has changed since he was a freshman.

“Completely different. Coming in as a freshman, this game seemed so surreal and I had to do so much to get to where I’m at right now,’ Lux said. “I have to credit my teammates, my family, my coaches. Without them, we wouldn’t be here right now. We’re one more away and I couldn’t believe it.”

Team chemistry has been key

Duke has made an improbable run in the NCAA Tournament and is now only one win away from the College World Series.

The Blue Devils went 3-1 in the Conway Regional, including beating Coastal Carolina 12-3 in the regional championship.

After Friday’s win over Virginia, Lux said that team chemistry has been key to the run.

“We’ve got a lot of youthful energy. Not just the freshmen, either, it’s the grad guys bringing youthful energy. We love being around each other,” Lux said. “We can’t get enough of every guy on this team. It’s just like coach [Chris] Pollard said, we have so much fun being around each other and that makes being on the field that much more fun.”