Curd Named PNC Achievers Blue Devil of the Month

Duke Softball relied on contributions from a variety of talents to claim the 2024 ACC championship and the program’s first trip to the Women’s College World Series. Among the many clutch performers for the Blue Devils, sophomore pitcher Cassidy Curd displayed a knack for shining when it mattered most.

In the ACC championship game against Florida State, the lefty came out of the bullpen and hurled four innings of hitless relief as Duke picked up its second league crown in four years before a soldout crowd at its home park.

A week later, in an NCAA Regional final also in Durham, Curd got the start against South Carolina and earned the victory in a 10-1 decision that sent the Blue Devils to the Super Regionals.

Traveling to Missouri for the Supers, Curd was in the circle for both wins that secured the WCWS trip. In the opener she pitched 5.1 innings of hitless relief as Duke won 6-3 over the host Tigers. In the final she started and went 8.1 innings to get the win in an extra-inning affair. Across the two games she struck out 15 in 13.2 innings.

Curd finished the season with a 13-4 record and 1.31 earned run average, tossing 156 strikeouts in 128.1 innings while holding opposing hitters to a .151 batting average as Duke posted a 52-9 record (20-4 ACC). She started 23 times and had three complete games. She came on in relief nine times and picked up three saves.

Curd was named ACC pitcher of the week twice during the regular season, the second time after throwing a complete game shutout and racking up a career high of 12 strikeouts vs. North Carolina.

This was Curd’s second superlative season in the circle for Duke. She broke in as a freshman last year with an 18-3 record and 1.65 ERA, with 159 strikeouts in 127.1 innings. She made a splash at the 2023 ACC tourney when she threw a no-hitter vs. Clemson in the semifinals, becoming the first rookie with a no-hitter in the history of the event.

All-ACC First Team • 2023 & 2024

2024 Stats • 13-4 record, 1.31 ERA, 32 games, 3 CG, 128.1 innings, 156 strikeouts

2024 Postseason • 4-1 record, 1.17 ERA, 8 games, 42 innings, 29 strikeouts

This story originally appeared in the 15.11 issue of GoDuke The Magazine – June 2024. Dedicated to sharing the stories of Duke student-athletes, present and past, GoDuke The Magazine is published for Duke Athletics by LEARFIELD with editorial offices at 3100 Tower Blvd., Suite 404, Durham, NC 27707. To subscribe, join the Iron Dukes or call (336) 831-0767.