Duke Collects Program Record 16 Strikeouts; Shuts Out UConn, 7-0

Sunday, March 7

Durham, N.C.

2 p.m.

Duke University

15-1

UConn

6-9

UConn

Duke

Duke Collects Program Record 16 Strikeouts; Shuts Out UConn, 7-0

3/7/2021 5:51:00 PM | Softball

Box Score Photo Gallery

DURHAM, N.C. – With the help of a five-run third inning and stellar pitching, the No. 14 Duke softball team shut out UConn, 7-0, on Sunday afternoon at the Duke Softball Stadium.

Duke notched its sixth shutout of the 2021 campaign to improve to 15-1 while the loss moved UConn to 6-9.

Blue Devil pitchers senior Peyton St. George and freshman Claire Davidson were dominant in the circle as the duo combined for 16 strikeouts, setting a program record. St. George dealt five complete innings in which she tallied 11 strikeouts while only letting up one hit to earn her sixth (6-0) win of the season. Entering in the fifth, Davidson struck out five of six batters faced in her two innings of work.

St. George opened the contest striking out the Huskies in order and recorded five punchouts in the first two frames. The Blue Devil offense made their first move of the day in the bottom of the second, taking a 1-0 lead on an RBI double to shallow center field from junior Caroline Jacobsen.

Following St. George's second time striking out the side in order, Duke's offense broke through in the third and plated five runs. Junior Deja Davis drew a leadoff walk, sophomore Gisele Tapia singled through the left side and senior Rachel Crabtree was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Senior Jameson Kavel worked the count and drew a walk to score a run (2-0) and an RBI groundout from Kristina Foreman brought Duke's third run across the plate.

Garnering a hit in three consecutive games, sophomore Kamryn Jackson extended the Blue Devils' lead to 5-0 with a two-run double to right center. Freshman Kelly Torres sent a shot to the pitcher and reached on a fielder's choice while Jackson beat the tag at home plate (6-0).

Duke added the final run of the contest to the board as Davis scored on a fielder's choice from Crabtree in the fourth. UConn had its first baserunner in the fifth on a Duke error and picked up its lone hit in the next at-bat with a single up the middle. The Huskies used a double steal to advance both runners into scoring position, but Duke recorded three straight outs to end the UConn threat.

Freshman Sarah Goddard registered the third hit of her rookie campaign with a single over the shortstop's head and Davis extended her hit streak to 12 games with a single up the middle in the sixth inning.

Notables

Duke's previous strikeout record was held by Brianna Butler who racked up 14 K's against Gardner-Webb on March 8, 2020.
St. George was one strikeout shy of tying her single-game high of 12 which she's recorded on two occasions.
The Blue Devils have notched four one-hitters in 2021.

The Blue Devils return to ACC action next weekend with a four-game series at home against Virginia, March 12-14. All games at the Duke Softball Stadium will be available to watch on ACC Network Extra.

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