DURHAM, N.C. – Four different Blue Devils launched home runs to propel No. 13 Duke past Virginia, 8-2, and secure the four-game ACC series sweep on Sunday afternoon at the Duke Softball Stadium.
The Blue Devils went undefeated for the third consecutive week, improving to 19-1 and 8-1 with a 13-game win streak while Virginia moved to 6-13 and 2-11. Following weekend action, Duke is four victories away from hitting 100 wins in just the fourth year of the program with a 96-63 record.
Duke set a single-game home run record as
Deja Davis,
Jameson Kavel,
Kristina Foreman and
Caroline Jacobsen all hit a ball out of the park. Kavel and Foreman led the Blue Devils at the plate with two hits apiece while Kavel had the edge in RBI with three driven home.
Both teams tallied one run in the second inning as senior
Rachel Crabtree brought Foreman home on an RBI double, tying the game at 1-1. Following a scoreless third, Virginia hit a solo homer for the go ahead run in the fourth.
However, it wouldn't last long as the Blue Devils plated three in the bottom half of the frame. Kavel for things going, sending a leadoff double to right field and advancing to third on an error. Duke hit back-to-back home runs to center field as Foreman sent a two-run shot over the wall, followed by a solo long ball from Jacobsen (4-2).
The Blue Devils tacked on some insurance in the fifth, adding four runs on five hits. Davis began the inning with a solo blast to right center, recording her fourth of the 2021 campaign. Freshman
Kelly Torres and sophomore
Gisele Tapia both singled and were brought home on a three-run bomb from Kavel for a final score of 8-2.
Senior
Kendyl Lange registered the last hit of the contest as she beat out the throw on a bunt to the pitcher.
Upping her season record to 9-0, senior
Peyton St. George hurled a complete game with seven strikeouts. She now stands one win from tying her career high for victories.
The Blue Devils will make a quick trip to Elon on Wednesday, March 17, for a midweek matchup with the Phoenix. First pitched is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. at Hunt Softball Park.
#GoDuke