Duke Falls Twice on Day Two of NFCA Leadoff Classic

Saturday, February 8

Clearwater, Fla.

1 p.m.

Duke University

2-1

Missouri

3-0

Missouri

Duke

softball huddle vs Penn State at NFCA Leadoff Classic

Duke Falls Twice on Day Two of NFCA Leadoff Classic

2/8/2025 9:51:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

CLEARWATER, Fla. – Seventh-ranked Duke battled two nationally-ranked teams on the second day of the NFCA Leadoff Classic in Clearwater, Fla., but ultimately came up short, falling to No. 15 Missouri, 10-3, and No. 24 Northwestern, 4-1, Saturday afternoon.

The Blue Devil pitching staff of graduate student Dani Drogemuller, juniors Cassidy Curd and Sophie Garner-MacKinnon and freshman Hailey Shuler saw action in the circle. Drogemuller was pinned with her first loss of the season in the opening game and moves her season ledger to 1-1. Garner-MacKinnon picked up the loss in the nightcap after tossing the first 2.2 innings against the Wildcats.

HOW IT HAPPENED VS. NO.15 MISSOURI

Junior D'Auna Jennings opened the scoring against the Tigers in the bottom of the fourth with an infield single to bring in classmate Aleyah Terrell, who was pinch running for junior KK Mathis after she opened the frame with a base hit to left field.
Missouri answered back in the top of the fifth with a solo home run off the bat of Stefania Abruscato to even the score, 1-1.
The Blue Devils pushed ahead again in the home half of the inning after Burgess sent a double down the right-field line to score senior Ana Gold. Gold led off the frame with a single to right-center field. Mathis followed two batters later with a two-out single deep into left field to bring in Burgess and put Duke in front, 3-1.
The Tigers' offense erupted in the top of the sixth, scoring nine runs off nine hits, to pull away with the 10-3 advantage.
The Blue Devils battled until their final out, loading the bases with a double, infield single and a walk, but were unable to push the runs across.

HOW IT HAPPENED VS. NO. 24 NORTHWESTERN

The Wildcats jumped on the early 1-0 lead after an RBI-single up the middle in the bottom of the second.
In the top of the third, Duke loaded the bases on three straight infield singles before redshirt sophomore Kairi Rodriguez drew a bases-loaded walk to tie the game, 1-1.
Northwestern responded immediately with three additional runs in the bottom of the third to regain the lead, 4-1.
The Blue Devils attempted to close the gap in the following four frames but were limited to just four hits as the Wildcats secured the 4-1 victory.

NOTES

Curd earned her 45th career start against the Tigers, allowing just one run off two hits while fanning six.
Shuler made her Blue Devil debut in the circle, working 1.1 innings in the opening game against Missouri.
Graduate student Thessa Malau'ulu, Mathis and Jennings powered the offense in the second day of competition, tallying three hits apiece. Mathis and Jennings also drove in two of Duke's four runs.

UP NEXT
The Blue Devils close out action in Clearwater on Sunday with a 11 a.m. matchup with Kentucky. The contest can be streamed on GameChanger with live stats available through Statbroadcast.

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