Eight-Run Inning Powers Duke to Third Straight Super Regional

Sunday, May 19

Durham, N.C.

3:30 p.m.

Duke University

50-6

South Carolina

36-24

Duke

South Carolina

Eight-Run Inning Powers Duke to Third Straight Super Regional

5/19/2024 10:54:00 PM | Softball

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DURHAM – An eight-run seventh inning propelled 10th-seeded Duke to its third straight NCAA Super Regional after defeating South Carolina, 10-1, on Sunday at Duke Softball Stadium.

With the win, the Blue Devils improve their overall ledger to 50-6 and set a program record for wins in a single season. Additionally, Duke concluded its home slate with a 29-3 mark for its most home victories in program history.

Senior Claire Davidson paced the Blue Devil offense, batting 3-for-5 on the day with one run. Freshman Amiah Burgess, sophomore D'Auna Jennings and graduate student Gisele Tapia each added two hits each. Jennings accounted for two of Duke's 10 runs, while Burgess and senior Francesca Frelick posted three and two RBI, respectively.

The Blue Devil duo of the sophomore Cassidy Curd and senior Jala Wright combined to allow just one earned run throughout the game. Curd earned the start and the win, surrendering the Gamecocks' lone run off three hits with six strikeouts in 4.1 innings of work. Wright picked up the save after working 2.2 scoreless innings of relief while fanning five.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Frelick opened the scoring in the top of the fourth with a two-RBI single to center field. Her knock scored sophomore Aleyah Terrell, who was pinch running for Tapia, and redshirt-sophomore Jada Baker.
South Carolina answered in bottom half of the frame, connecting on a double and a Blue Devils' throwing error to push its lone run across home plate.
It remained a one-run game until Duke's offense erupted in the top of the seventh with eight runs on eight hits to create a 10-1 gap between the teams. The frame was highlighted by six consecutive batters reaching base and a bases-clearing triple down the right field line by Burgess.
In the bottom half of the seventh inning, Wright retired the first two batters via strikeout before South Carolina was able to put runners on first and third to spark a small rally. Fortunately, Wright settled back in to strike out the side and seal the victory.

NOTES

Duke is now 11-7 all-time in the NCAA Championship and have outscored its opponents, 82-47, during that stretch.
Over the three-game weekend, Duke's pitching staff of Curd, Wright and Lillie Walker, relinquished just two runs while striking out 26 combined batters.
Curd earned her 40th career start inside the circle and improved her season ledger to 11-3.
Wright secured her second save of the season and has tossed 13.2 consecutive scoreless innings over her last three appearances.
After fanning 11 batters on the day, Duke's pitching staff has now tallied 15 games with 10-plus strikeouts
Burgess notched the second triple of her career.

QUOTES

"We are super excited to win another regional at home against a quality opponent, and I'm super proud of the way this team just came out, competed, and continued to get better as the game went on and really separated themselves and showed some dominance. We had outstanding pitching in the circle from Cassidy Curd and Jala Wright, who again closed things out. There were a lot of really offensive highlights from people up and down the lineup. Frankie [Francesca Frelick] really got things going for us in key spots, and Amiah [Burgess] blew the gates open with her base-clearing triple at the end. I am just really proud of this group and excited to see what the next step ahead is." – Head Coach Marissa Young
"I felt that in the previous at-bat, I was just thinking too much. I was like, 'If she throws it over the plate, I'm hitting it wherever it is.' I saw it down the line and obviously the jets were on. I've got to get as much as I can because we need these runs to really make a statement." – Freshman Amiah Burgess on the thoughts going through her head leading up to the triple.
"I mean, we have the same team, plus a couple extra coming back for Supers [Super Regionals]. I think that is really great. The experience is there. The fire under us is there. I think we have a really good shot, and I think we are ready to go." – senior Francesca Frelick on the team's mentality moving forward

UP NEXT
The Blue Devils advance to their third straight NCAA Super Regional and will travel to Columbia, Missouri, to face seventh-seeded Missouri in a three-game series beginning Friday at 2 p.m.

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

Duke Centennial
In 2024, Duke celebrates its Centennial, marking one hundred years since Trinity College became Duke University. Duke will use this historic milestone to deepen the understanding of its history, inspire pride and strengthen bonds and partnerships, and prepare for a second century of continued excellence and impactful leadership. To learn more, please visit 100.duke.edu

#GoDuke

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Next Event

Missouri

W, 6-3

May 24 (Fri)

2 p.m.

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Full Schedule

Team Stats

Pitching:

W: Curd, Cassidy (11-3)

L: Alana Vawter (17-13)

S: Wright, Jala (2)

Duke

Batting:

3B: Burgess, Amiah 1

RBI: Jennings, D'Auna 1 ; Torres, Kelly 1 ; Gold, Ana 1 ; Tapia, Gisele 1 ; Frelick, Francesca 2 ; Burgess, Amiah 3

Base Running:

RUNS: Jennings, D'Auna 2 ; Davidson, Claire 1 ; Zampa, Kelsey 1 ; Gold, Ana 1 ; Tapia, Gisele 1 ; Terrell, Aleyah 1 ; Baker, Jada 1 ; Frelick, Francesca 1 ; Burgess, Amiah 1