Blue Devils Shut Out Penn State, No. 24 Mississippi State on Opening Day

Friday, February 7

Clearwater, Fla.

5 p.m.

Duke University

1-0

Penn State

0-1

Duke

Penn State

Blue Devils Shut Out Penn State, No. 24 Mississippi State on Opening Day

2/8/2025 12:01:00 AM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

CLEARWATER, Fla. – Seventh-ranked Duke softball opened the 2025 season in strong fashion on Friday, defeating Penn State, 7-0, in the opening game before collecting an 8-0 run-rule victory over No. 24 Mississippi State to close out day one of the NFCA Leadoff Classic in Clearwater, Fla.

Junior Aminah Vega led the offense in the two games, finishing 4-for-6 with a pair of doubles and five RBI on the day. Freshman Brooklinn Thomas went 3-for-5 with two RBI while redshirt sophomore Kairi Rodriguez hit 4-for-7 and accounted for five of Duke's 15 runs.

Junior Cassidy Curd and graduate student Dani Drogemuller picked up the wins in the circle, each throwing complete games of 7.0 and 5.0 innings, respectively. The duo combined to relinquish just seven hits during the two contests.

HOW IT HAPPENED VS. PENN STATE

After a scoreless first two frames, the Blue Devils jumped out to a 1-0 lead after Vega scored Thomas from third. Thomas reached on single to left field in her first collegiate plate appearance before moving up on a stolen base and an infield single.
The Nittany Lions sparked their offense in the bottom of the fourth, placing runners on the corners with one out, but Curd struck out the following two batters to end the inning and left the Penn State runners stranded.
The Blue Devils' offense came alive in the top of the seventh with a six-run rally, highlighted by back-to-back triples from senior Ana Gold and Rodriguez, to stretch the gap to 7-0.
Curd sat down three of the final four batters, allowing one to reach on a walk, to secure the shutout win.

HOW IT HAPPENED VS. NO. 24 MISSISSIPPI STATE

Rodriguez carried the momentum into the nightcap against Mississippi State as she put the Blue Devils ahead early with a three-run blast over the left field fence in the bottom of the first.
Duke added two additional runs in the following frame after Vega sent a double to the top of the left field wall, just inches short of a home run.
Thomas extended the Blue Devils' lead again in the third after reaching on a fielder's choice and scoring sophomore Amiah Burgess from third to make it a 6-0 game.
Burgess later ripped a single up the middle in the fourth inning that allowed Gold and junior D'Auna Jennings to cross the plate and round out Duke's eight runs.
In the top of the fifth, the Blue Devil defense quickly put two outs away before Burgess came up big with a diving catch in left field to end the inning and seal the run-rule victory.

NOTES

Curd tossed the ninth complete game of her career and struck out eight during the contest. She now owns 323 strikeouts to her name.
Drogemuller earned her 25th career win inside the circle against Mississippi State and posted her fourth complete game shutout.
Rodriguez sent out the fourth home run of her career and tallied a career-high three RBI in the nightcap against the Bulldogs.
Freshman Gabriella Mike made her Blue Devil debut against Penn State, pinch running for Mathis, in the top of the seventh.

UP NEXT
Duke is back in action Saturday for a pair of top 25 matchups against No. 15 Missouri and No. 21 Northwestern. First pitch with the Tigers is set for 1 p.m. and will be broadcast on MLB Network. The Blue Devils' matchup with the Wildcats will follow at 4 p.m. and can be streamed on GameChanger.

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

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