CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – No. 13 Duke softball (32-5, 14-2 ACC) used a seven-run third inning to pull away from Virginia, in a 10-2 victory in six innings on Sunday afternoon at Palmer Park.
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Four different Blue Devils tallied multi-RBI games, with
Jameson Kavel leading the way with three. Sophomore
Jala Wright (9-1) added another win in the circle, allowing just five hits and one run over four innings of work.
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The Cavaliers were the first team on the board in the opening frame, as Katie Goldberg hit an RBI single to give the hosts a 1-0 advantage. However, the Blue Devils were quick to respond as they opened the third inning.
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Francesca Frelick opened a big personal day with a double, setting the Blue Devils up for seven runs to come across the plate. After loading the bases on a
Kamryn Jackson hit-by-pitch and Kavel walk,
Rachel Crabtree drove home two on an RBI single to give Duke the lead.
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After
Deja Davis scored on an error,
Kristina Foreman broke open the game with a two-run single to make it 5-1.
Caroline Jacobsen capped off another huge inning with a two-run home run off the left field video board to extend the lead to 7-1.
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The two sides turned in a pair of scoreless frames, until the Blue Devils added a cushion in the sixth inning to secure the run-rule win. Frelick recorded her third hit of the day and Jackson added another hit to set up Kavel. The graduate student ripped a 1-1 pitch into center field, making it 10-1 and putting the game out of reach.
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While the Cavaliers did get a run back in bottom of the sixth,
Claire Davidson finished off the win, going two innings allowing just one hit.
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The Blue Devils will continue their Virginia road swing, traveling to James Madison for a doubleheader on Tuesday, Apr. 12 at 2 p.m., and 4 p.m. Both games will be streamed on FloSports.
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Notes:
- With her third inning walk, Kavel extended her on-base streak to 21 consecutive games, matching Jacobsen for the longest streak by a Blue Devil this season. The school record is Crabtree with 25, back in 2019.
- Crabtree's RBI single in the third inning also extended her on-base streak to 17 straight games.
- Crabtree and Foreman tallied their 100th career runs scored in the win.
- With her home run in the sixth inning, Kavel tied Foreman for the Duke single season home run record, with her 12th blast of the season.
- Frelick recorded the first three-hit game of her collegiate career, ripping two doubles.
- Ana Gold stole her 10th base in the win. She becomes just the second Blue Devil freshman to steal 10 or more bases their rookie year, joining Kavel.
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