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1 p.m.
Softball
vs Charlotte
Friday, March 6
Durham, N.C.
7:30 p.m.
Duke University
vs
Fordham
Blue Devils Host Duke Invitational
3/5/2020 3:56:00 PM | Softball
DURHAM, N.C. – Duke softball is set to host the 14-game Duke Invitational this weekend as Fordham, Howard, Gardner-Webb, Kent State and Lafayette come to the Bull City. All games are at the Duke Softball Stadium and admission is free.
There will be five games on Friday and Saturday before the invitational wraps up with four contests on Sunday. The Blue Devils will begin with Fordham on Friday, March 6 at 7:30 p.m. before games against Kent State and Lafayette on Saturday, March 7 at 2:30 p.m. and 5 p.m., respectively. Duke will close out the weekend with a doubleheader against Gardner-Webb on Sunday, March 8 at 2 and 4:30 p.m.
This will be Duke's first meeting with Fordham, Lafayette and Gardner-Webb. The Blue Devils played Kent State during the Duke Inaugural Tournament on March 4, 2018 when Duke won 8-0 in five innings for the first run-rule victory in program history.
SCOUTING FORDHAM
Through the first 15 games of the 2020 campaign, Fordham holds a 4-11 ledger. The Rams have won three straight, coming off a 3-2 weekend Florida Gulf Coast's Spring Break Classic in Fort Myers. Sarah Taffet has a team-high .313 batting average with 15 hits, three triples and eight RBI. With nine appearances in the circle, Madie Aughinbaugh has a 3.53 ERA in 43.2 innings with a 1-6 record.
SCOUTING KENT STATE
Facing off against six ranked opponents already this season, Kent State carries a 7-8 mark into the Duke Invitational. The Golden Flashes are coming off an 0-5 weekend at the WOOO Pig Classic at Arkansas. Leading Kent State's offense is Breen Brownfield, batting .366 with 15 hits, four home runs and 13 RBI. Andrea Scali leads the pitching staff with 10 appearances through 47.1 innings, holding a 3-6 record with 68 punchouts.
SCOUTING LAFAYETTE
The Leopards are seeking their first win of the 2020 campaign as Lafayette has gone 0-7 to begin the season. In their seven games, the Leopards have suffered six five-inning run-rule losses. Natasha Miner paces Lafayette's offense with six hits in 19 at-bats while Julia Romano, Erin Scott and Grace Harvey have each notched four hits. The Leopards have utilized three pitchers in the circle: Hannah Cook, Kinzi Van Wyk and Kaili Reitano.
SCOUTING GARDNER-WEBB
The Runnin' Bulldogs hold an impressive 20-3 record heading into the invitational. Gardner-Webb's only losses have been at the hands of Canisius, Valparaiso and Colgate. Five players for GWU have 20+ hits on the season, including Weslyn Almond who has a team-high 29. Andrea Lyon has homered six times this year and has racked up 29 RBI. In the circle, the Runnin' Bulldogs combined for a 1.93 ERA and are led by Brooke Perry (9-2), pitching 68 innings in which she's struck out 81 batters.
RECAPPING USC UPSTATE DOUBLEHEADER
Duke picked up two five-inning run-rule victories over the USC Upstate Spartans on Wednesday, winning 11-2 in game one and 10-0 in game two. The Blue Devils used the long ball to their advantage, hitting six out of the park. Sophomore Caroline Jacobsen led the charge with three on the day, including two in the second game. Freshmen Felise Collins and Kamryn Jackson each added one while junior Sydney Bolan tallied her first as a Blue Devil.
Between the two games, all starters got notched at least one hit and scored a run. Collins led Duke with four hits while Jacobsen and sophomore Deja Davis each recorded three.
The Blue Devils utilized four pitchers between the two games as juniors Brianna Butler and Peyton St. George both earned wins in the circle after hurling four innings. Sophomores Angie Biele and Kylie Coffelt both made their second career appearances in relief as each threw one frame.
BOMBS AWAY
With six home runs in Wednesday's doubleheader, Duke has upped its season total to 21. The single-season program record is 24 – set last year. In Duke's inaugural season, the Blue Devils hit 20. Jacobsen now holds the single season and career records for homers.
UP NEXT
The Blue Devils will spend their spring break at home, hosting Elon on Wednesday, March 11 at 6 p.m. before an ACC series with Florida State March 13-15.
#GoDuke
There will be five games on Friday and Saturday before the invitational wraps up with four contests on Sunday. The Blue Devils will begin with Fordham on Friday, March 6 at 7:30 p.m. before games against Kent State and Lafayette on Saturday, March 7 at 2:30 p.m. and 5 p.m., respectively. Duke will close out the weekend with a doubleheader against Gardner-Webb on Sunday, March 8 at 2 and 4:30 p.m.
This will be Duke's first meeting with Fordham, Lafayette and Gardner-Webb. The Blue Devils played Kent State during the Duke Inaugural Tournament on March 4, 2018 when Duke won 8-0 in five innings for the first run-rule victory in program history.
SCOUTING FORDHAM
Through the first 15 games of the 2020 campaign, Fordham holds a 4-11 ledger. The Rams have won three straight, coming off a 3-2 weekend Florida Gulf Coast's Spring Break Classic in Fort Myers. Sarah Taffet has a team-high .313 batting average with 15 hits, three triples and eight RBI. With nine appearances in the circle, Madie Aughinbaugh has a 3.53 ERA in 43.2 innings with a 1-6 record.
SCOUTING KENT STATE
Facing off against six ranked opponents already this season, Kent State carries a 7-8 mark into the Duke Invitational. The Golden Flashes are coming off an 0-5 weekend at the WOOO Pig Classic at Arkansas. Leading Kent State's offense is Breen Brownfield, batting .366 with 15 hits, four home runs and 13 RBI. Andrea Scali leads the pitching staff with 10 appearances through 47.1 innings, holding a 3-6 record with 68 punchouts.
SCOUTING LAFAYETTE
The Leopards are seeking their first win of the 2020 campaign as Lafayette has gone 0-7 to begin the season. In their seven games, the Leopards have suffered six five-inning run-rule losses. Natasha Miner paces Lafayette's offense with six hits in 19 at-bats while Julia Romano, Erin Scott and Grace Harvey have each notched four hits. The Leopards have utilized three pitchers in the circle: Hannah Cook, Kinzi Van Wyk and Kaili Reitano.
SCOUTING GARDNER-WEBB
The Runnin' Bulldogs hold an impressive 20-3 record heading into the invitational. Gardner-Webb's only losses have been at the hands of Canisius, Valparaiso and Colgate. Five players for GWU have 20+ hits on the season, including Weslyn Almond who has a team-high 29. Andrea Lyon has homered six times this year and has racked up 29 RBI. In the circle, the Runnin' Bulldogs combined for a 1.93 ERA and are led by Brooke Perry (9-2), pitching 68 innings in which she's struck out 81 batters.
RECAPPING USC UPSTATE DOUBLEHEADER
Duke picked up two five-inning run-rule victories over the USC Upstate Spartans on Wednesday, winning 11-2 in game one and 10-0 in game two. The Blue Devils used the long ball to their advantage, hitting six out of the park. Sophomore Caroline Jacobsen led the charge with three on the day, including two in the second game. Freshmen Felise Collins and Kamryn Jackson each added one while junior Sydney Bolan tallied her first as a Blue Devil.
Between the two games, all starters got notched at least one hit and scored a run. Collins led Duke with four hits while Jacobsen and sophomore Deja Davis each recorded three.
The Blue Devils utilized four pitchers between the two games as juniors Brianna Butler and Peyton St. George both earned wins in the circle after hurling four innings. Sophomores Angie Biele and Kylie Coffelt both made their second career appearances in relief as each threw one frame.
BOMBS AWAY
With six home runs in Wednesday's doubleheader, Duke has upped its season total to 21. The single-season program record is 24 – set last year. In Duke's inaugural season, the Blue Devils hit 20. Jacobsen now holds the single season and career records for homers.
UP NEXT
The Blue Devils will spend their spring break at home, hosting Elon on Wednesday, March 11 at 6 p.m. before an ACC series with Florida State March 13-15.
#GoDuke
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