Explosive First Inning Guides No. 21 Duke to Series Sweep over Louisville

Sunday, March 30

Louisville, Ky.

12 p.m.

Duke University

25-12, 0

Louisville

20-15, 0

Duke

Louisville

Explosive First Inning Guides No. 21 Duke to Series Sweep over Louisville

3/30/2025 6:31:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – An explosive 10-run first inning helped guide No. 21 Duke past Louisville, 15-8, Sunday afternoon as the Blue Devils completed the three-game sweep over the Cardinals at Ulmer Stadium.

With the win, the Blue Devils improved to 25-12 overall with a 7-5 mark in ACC play while the Cardinals move to 20-15 on the year and 3-9 in conference action.

Graduate student Dani Drogemuller, junior Sophie Garner-MacKinnon and freshman Hailey Shuler combined in the circle during the series finale. Drogemuller earned her second start of the series, allowing two unearned runs off four hits in 3.0 innings of work. Shuler tossed the final 3.2 innings, surrendering four runs on six hits, to pick up the win.

HOW IT HAPPENED

The Blue Devils' offense came out firing in the top of the first, posting 10 runs off seven hits and three Cardinal errors. The frame was highlighted by redshirt sophomore Kairi Rodriguez's bases-clearing double to right-center field.
Louisville plated its first run in the bottom of the second using a throwing error and a single up the middle.
Senior Ana Gold extended the gap to 12-1 in the top of the third with a two-run shot to left field. Her long ball brought in freshman Gabriella Mike, who was pinch running for junior Aminah Vega after she reached on a base hit.
The Cardinals began to chip away at the Duke lead, scoring seven runs off seven hits over the following three frames to make it a 12-8 game heading into the sixth inning.
Vega sent a two-out double to the center field wall to score graduate student Thessa Malau'ulu from first and put Duke ahead, 13-8, in the top of the sixth.
The Blue Devils tacked on their final two runs in the top of the seventh, scoring on a wild pitch and a sacrifice fly.

NOTES

Gold blasted her sixth home run of the season and 44th career long ball.
Shuler made her first two collegiate plate appearances during the contest.
The Lake Balboa, Calif., native also earned the win in the circle, improving to 2-0 on the year.
The Blue Devils scored 10 runs in an inning for the first time since they posted a 10-run frame against UNC Greensboro on April 14, 2024.
Duke recorded its 16th contest with 10 or more hits.
The Blue Devils are 22-3 in games when scoring first this season.
The Blue Devils move the all-time series to a 13-5 advantage, including a 9-2 record when playing in Louisville.

UP NEXT
The Blue Devils close out the five-game road swing on Wednesday, traveling to Wilmington, N.C., for a non-conference contest with UNC Wilmington at Boseman Field. First pitch is set for 5 p.m.

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

#GoDuke

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Next Event

UNC Wilmington

W, 9-0

Apr 2 (Wed)

5 p.m.

Box Score Recap Watch Live stats History

Full Schedule

Team Stats

Pitching:

W: Shuler, Hailey (2-0)

L: Brooke Gray (5-6)

Duke

Batting:

2B: Vega, Aminah 1 ; Rodriguez, Kairi 1

HR: Gold, Ana 1

RBI: Malau'ulu, Thessa 1 ; Vega, Aminah 2 ; Gold, Ana 4 ; Baker, Jada 1 ; Jennings, D'Auna 1 ; Rodriguez, Kairi 3 ; Le, Linh 1

SF: Gold, Ana 1 ; Le, Linh 1

Base Running:

RUNS: Malau'ulu, Thessa 3 ; Vega, Aminah 2 ; Mike, Gabriella 1 ; Gold, Ana 2 ; Baker, Jada 1 ; Mathis, KK 1 ; Jennings, D'Auna 2 ; Rodriguez, Kairi 1 ; Thomas, Brooklinn 1 ; Terrell, Aleyah 1