Duke Advances to Regional Final with 12-Inning Victory

Saturday, May 22

Athens, Ga.

12 p.m.

Duke University

43-11

Georgia

31-21

Georgia

Duke

Kyla Morris vs. Western Kentucky on Saturday night

Duke Advances to Regional Final with 12-Inning Victory

5/22/2021 11:14:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

ATHENS, Ga. – Despite a 1-0 setback in game one against Georgia, the No. 13-seeded Duke softball team used a four-run 12th inning to outlast Western Kentucky on Saturday to advance to the final day of the Athens Regional.

The Blue Devils (44-11) dropped a tight 1-0 decision to Georgia in the noon game but bounced back and played their longest game in program history to extend the season, winning 4-0 versus the Hilltoppers in an extra-inning thriller.

Duke's pitching duo was stellar in both games. Senior Peyton St. George (18-7) had a strong showing in the circle against Georgia, throwing a complete game in which she let up five hits and one run while fanning 10, but the Blue Devils were limited to only two hits. Junior Shelby Walters (19-3) tossed all 12 scoreless frames against Western Kentucky, allowing five hits and striking out five.

Junior Kyla Morris helped score the game-winning runs in the night cap, reaching safely on a bunt single as two runs scored on an overthrow to first base.

Game 1: Georgia 1, Duke 0
St. George came out hot, striking out the Georgia side in the opening frame. She retired the first seven batters until Ellie Armistead hit a solo home run for what would be the game-winning run at 1-0.

Duke saw a pair of baserunners in the third and fourth innings, but the Blue Devils were unable to bring them across in either frame. Juniors Caroline Jacobsen walked and Deja Davis laid down a sacrifice bunt, reaching on an error in the third. Freshman Kelly Torres walked in the fourth and senior Sydney Bolan ripped a shot to left field for Duke's first hit of the day.

Both sides went down in order in the fifth, while Georgia added pressure with two hits in the top half of the sixth. The Bulldogs recorded back-to-back singles, but Duke's defense was locked in and got out of the inning unscathed.

The Blue Devils looked to rally in the bottom of the seventh as Bolan garnered her second hit of the day, sliding into second base for a double. Graduate student Jazmine Moreno entered to pinch run at second, but Duke was unable to complete the comeback.

St. George (18-7) had a strong showing in the circle, throwing a complete game in which she let up five hits and one run, while fanning 10.

Duke will play Georgia tomorrow at 12 p.m. and must win twice to advice to the NCAA Super Regional.

Game 2: Duke 4, Western Kentucky 0 (12)
Following 12 scoreless innings, Duke plated four runs in the top of the 12th to secure its 44th win of the 2021 campaign and advance to the Athens Regional Final.

Western Kentucky loaded the bases in the third and had two baserunners in the sixth, but Walters got out of the jams in both innings.

Duke looked for a late surge in the seventh with a leadoff walk from Bolan and a bunt by junior Kristina Foreman, but she was called out on interference after a collision at first. Jacobsen walked to put two runners on, but a pop-up would shut down Duke's scoring opportunity.

Davis got the bats going in the top of the 11th with an infield single to first and moved to second on a sac bunt by sophomore Gisele Tapia. Senior Jameson Kavel slapped a ball to the third baseman who couldn't make a play, putting runners on the corners for the Blue Devils. Kavel stole second, but a groundout kept Duke off the board.

Foreman singled up the middle to spark Duke's offense in the 12th. Jacobsen reached on an error while Morris followed with a bunt single which allowed Foreman and Morris to score on an overthrow. Davis was hit by a pitch and Tapia made it a 3-0 game with an RBI groundout. Duke's final run came as graduate student Dominique Salinas struck out and reached on a passed ball, scoring Davis (4-0).

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