DURHAM, N.C. – Duke softball is ready to host Elon in a Wednesday night matchup at the Duke Softball Stadium. First pitch versus the Phoenix is set for 6 p.m. and the game is available to watch on ACCNX.
The Blue Devils are coming off a 7-0 week, improving to 22-4 in the 2020 campaign – continuing its best start in program history.
HISTORY WITH THE ELON
Wednesday's contest will be the third meeting between the two programs, with each team having walked away with a victory. Duke won the first meeting on April 11, 2018 with a 1-0 shutout at home. The teams faced off at Elon last season, March 6, where the Phoenix edged the Blue Devils, 5-4. In the loss,
Jameson Kavel and
Caroline Jacobsen recorded two hits apiece and brought in one run while Duke utilized three pitchers.
Peyton St. George was credited with the loss as Elon scored three runs in the seventh, winning on a walk-off single.
SCOUTING THE PHOENIX
Holding an 11-10 ledger, the Phoenix are coming off a 1-2 weekend in Greensboro. Elon has faced one ranked opponent in 2020, playing at No. 22 South Carolina earlier this season where they dropped a 4-0 decision. Freshman Megan Grant headlines Elon's offense with 22 hits and a .352 batting average while sophomore Megan White has a team-high four home runs and 14 RBI.
In the circle, Elon is led by freshman Kaitlin King, who has made 12 appearances in her rookie campaign. Senior Kenna Quinn holds a 5-1 record through 45.1 innings while tallying 39 punchouts. As a unit, the Phoenix pitching staff combines for a 4.64 ERA.
GAME PROMOTIONS
Duke softball hosts Star Wars Night on Wednesday night. The first 50 fans in attendance will receive a blue, Duke-branded lightsaber.
RECORD-BREAKING WEEK
Shattering the first record of the week was Jacobsen who hit three homers in the USC Upstate doubleheader to break the single-season record of six while moving into first place all-time in program history with 15.
After setting a career high on Friday evening, junior pitcher
Brianna Butler surpassed the single-game program strikeout record in the first game of the Gardner-Webb doubleheader as she struck out 14 batters. Keeping the bats going, Duke broke the single-season team home run record on Sunday as the Blue Devils hit two homers to improve to 25 in the 2020 campaign.
RANKINGS UPDATE
For the third consecutive week, Duke is receiving votes in both the major polls. The Blue Devils picked up 21 in the USA Today/NFCA Division I Top 25 Coaches Poll and 17 in the ESPN.com/USA Softball Collegiate Top 25 Poll. The first official RPI of the 2020 season will be announced next Monday, March 16.
ON DECK
The Blue Devils will have one day to prepare for its second ACC series against No. 12 Florida State. Game one is set for 5 p.m. on Friday, March 13 while Saturday and Sunday's contests will both be at 1 p.m. The entire series will be available to watch on ACCNX.
#GoDuke