Explosive Fourth Inning Pushes No. 8 Duke Past Villanova, 8-0, on Day One of Duke Invitational

Friday, February 23

Durham, N.C.

7:30 p.m.

Duke University

9-1

Villanova

3-7

Villanova

Duke

Explosive Fourth Inning Pushes No. 8 Duke Past Villanova, 8-0, on Day One of Duke Invitational

2/23/2024 11:13:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

DURHAM – An explosive fourth inning helped lift No. 8 Duke (9-1) to an 8-0 victory over Villanova (3-7) to conclude Day One of the Duke Invitational on Friday night.

Junior Ana Gold highlighted the Blue Devils' offense with a three-run home run to center field in the bottom of the fourth. The Ballston Spa, N.Y., native finished 1-for-3 on the night with three RBI and one run.

Senior Jala Wright worked all 5.0 innings of the shutout, surrendering four hits while collecting five strikeouts. Wright tossed her second complete game in as many appearances and improved to 4-0 on the season.

HOW IT HAPPENED

The first two frames went scoreless before sophomore D'Auna Jennings reached on an infield single to bring home freshman Amiah Burgess, who reached on a walk and moved up on a stolen base.
Duke's offense erupted in the bottom of the fourth inning, using a pair of hits and a walk to load the bases.
Burgess then ripped a bases-clearing double deep into center field and advanced to third on the throw home.
Zampa laid down a perfect bunt in the following at bat to score Burgess and extend the lead, 5-0.
Gold rounded out Duke's eight runs with a three-run shot to center field before the Wildcats could grab the third out.
Wright retired the side in order in the top of the fifth to seal the run-rule victory.

NOTES

Senior Kelly Torres tallied her 100th career hit in the fourth inning after sending a double into right center field.
Gold has homered in back-to-back games after sending out a solo blast against Army during the FIU Invitational last weekend. She tallied her third multi-RBI game of the season.

UP NEXT
Duke will face Boston University and Michigan State in a doubleheader on Day Two of the Duke Invitational. First pitch is set for 5 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., respectively.

To stay up to date with Blue Devils softball, follow the team on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook by searching "DukeSOFTBALL"

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