Duke Defeats Missouri, 6-3, in Game One of NCAA Super Regional

Friday, May 24

Columbia, Mo.

2 p.m.

Duke University

51-6

Missouri

47-17

Duke

Mizzou

Frankie Frelick two-run home run vs Missouri NCAA Super Regional

Duke Defeats Missouri, 6-3, in Game One of NCAA Super Regional

5/24/2024 8:39:00 PM | Softball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)Postgame Interview Photo Gallery

COLUMBIA, Mo. – Tenth-seeded Duke defeated seventh-seeded Missouri, 6-3, in game one of the NCAA Super Regional on Friday at Mizzou Softball Stadium.

Sophomores D'Auna Jennings and Aminah Vega led the offense, finishing 2-for-4 and accounting for three of Duke's six runs. Graduate student Gisele Tapia and senior Francesca Frelick both went 1-for-3 at the plate and combined to drive in Duke's remaining three runs with one and two RBI, respectively.

The Blue Devil duo of senior Jala Wright and sophomore Cassidy Curd shared the circle against the Tigers. Wright earned her 25th start inside the circle, while Curd picked up the win, tossing 5.1 hitless innings of relief. Curd allowed just three baserunners to reach on an error, hit by pitch and walk, while fanning eight during the contest.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Missouri opened the scoring in the bottom of the first, connecting on a pair of singles and a throwing error to take an early 1-0 lead.
Frelick put the Blue Devils in front with a two-run home run in the following frame. Jennings added another run two batters later with an RBI-triple to score freshman Amiah Burgess, who reached on a base hit to left field.
The Tigers responded again in the home half with two runs off two hits to tie the game up at 3-3.
The next two frames went scoreless, before the Blue Devils pushed ahead 5-3 after Vega sent an RBI-double to the left center field wall to score senior Claire Davidson from first. Tapia then reached on an infield single to plate sophomore Aleyah Terrell, pinch running for Vega.
Jennings added an extra insurance run in the top of the seventh, after sending a base hit up the middle and moving up on a single and fielder's choice. The Houston, Texas, native was able to cross the plate before the Tigers could grab the third out to round out Duke's six runs.
Curd then sat down three of the final four batters to close the door on the Tigers and seal the 6-3 victory.

NOTES

Curd's eight strikeouts on the day pushed her past the 300-career strikeout milestone. The Port St. Lucie, Fla., native now has 307 to her name.
She now owns a 1.30 ERA and improves her season ledger to 12-3.
Jennings tallied her second triple of the year.
The win marked Duke's first Super Regional victory in its three appearances.
The Blue Devils now carry a 12-game winning streak into Saturday's contest.

QUOTES

"I'm obviously really excited and so proud of this team for taking another first step for the program, getting our first win at a Super Regional. Missouri is a really tough team and very resilient when playing in this environment, so that was great for us. It was great to see how the team competed and did so many good things up and down the lineup and throughout the game." – Head coach Marissa Young on the team's performance in game one.
"My goal for today was to come in with no fear, I just wanted to play free. As a senior, this is my last Super Regional, so I just want to have fun with it. Like coach said, this atmosphere is amazing, the fans are very loud and it's just a fun environment to play in. So again, no fear going in, just wanted to have some fun and look for something hard to hit. I know they scored first but our team is really good about not getting down on ourselves. We know our bats are hot and our pitchers are hot, so I think we had all the confidence in the world that we're going to get those runs back." – Senior Francesca Frelick on her two-run home run to take the lead
"I think a lot of it has to do with the faith and confidence that I have in my defense. I know that if there's anywhere that I fall short, if I leave a pitch hanging, I have eight phenomenal people right there to back me up. It helps allow me to play free and play loose, which is when I think I play my best. Being able to play with that kind of confidence and know that no matter what happens, I have my people there to back me up, it was just really easy to pitch my best." – Sophomore Cassidy Curd on entering the game when tied at 3-3.

UP NEXT
Game two of the NCAA Super Regionals is set for Saturday at 12 p.m. (CT)/1 p.m. (ET) at Mizzou Softball Stadium.

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