Jennings Sets Program Record; Blue Devils Sweep Day Three of Duke Invitational

Saturday, February 28

Durham, N.C.

12:30 p.m.

Duke University

10-9

Northwestern

8-11

Northwestern

Duke

Jennings Sets Program Record; Blue Devils Sweep Day Three of Duke Invitational

3/1/2026 12:39:00 AM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

DURHAM, N.C. – Senior D'Auna Jennings became Duke softball's all-time hits leader with a solo home run during the Blue Devils' opening game of the Duke Invitational Friday afternoon. Duke improved to 11-9 on the season after defeating Northwestern (8-11), 6-1, in game one and Ohio State (6-10), 6-3, in the second game of the day.

Jennings passed Jameson Kavel's career mark of 252 (2018-2022) with a solo home run in the bottom of the third versus Northwestern. The Hoston, Texas, native was the catalyst to the Blue Devils' offense in the two games, finishing 2-for-6 at the plate with two RBI and three runs scored.

Senior Cassidy Curd and junior Larissa Jacquez earned wins inside the circle. Curd was dominant in the opening game versus Northwestern, scattering three hits and allowing just one run over 7.0 innings. The senior also struck out a game-high seven batters in her complete game effort. Jacquez allowed just two runs off three hits against the Buckeyes in game two, fanning a season-high seven in her 5.0 innings of work. Sophomore Mallory Wheeler also saw action in the nightcap, picking up the save after tossing 2.0 innings of relief.

HOW IT HAPPENED VS. NORTHWESTERN

Northwestern struck in the top of the first, connecting a leadoff walk and back-to-back base hits to plate its lone run of game.
The Blue Devils came back with three runs over the following three frames, all from solo home runs, to pull in front, 3-1. Sophomore Layla Lamar hammered long balls in the second and fourth inning while Jennings added a solo shot in the third.
Jennings extended Duke's edge to 4-1 in the bottom of the fifth with an RBI-double to left center field, knocking in freshman Adelyn Matthews from first. Senior Aminah Vega followed with the Blue Devils' fourth home run of the night, a two-run shot to center field, to bring in Jennings and round out the scoring.
Curd shut the door on the Wildcats, retiring six of the final seven batters she faced. She closed out the contest with a pair of strikeouts in the top of the seventh to secure the victory.

HOW IT HAPPENED VS. OHIO STATE

The Buckeyes opened the scoring in game two, sending out a pair of solo home runs in the top of the first.
Vega drew a one-out walk in the bottom of the third before redshirt junior Jessica Oakland launched a two-run shot to left center field to tie the game at 2-2.
In the following frame, Vega blasted a two-run homer to right to score Jennings from first and give Duke its first lead of the game, 4-2.
Redshirt junior Kairi Rodriguez added extra insurance in the fifth, delivering an RBI-single to center field to score Matthews and stretch Duke's advantage to 5-2.
The visitors added a single run in the top of the sixth off a solo home run to cut the deficit to 5-3.
Vega sparked a two-out rally in the home half, slipping a base hit down the right field line. Oakland followed with a double to the right center field wall to plate Vega and push the lead back to three.
In the top of the seventh, Wheeler sat the final three Buckeyes down in order to put the game away, 6-3.

NOTES

Lamar recorded the second multi-home run game of her career after sending out a pair versus Boston University Wednesday night.
Jacquez picked up her first win as a Blue Devil and improves her career ledger to 21-20.
Curd tossed her third complete game of the season and 21st of her career.
Duke tallied four home runs in a game for the first since May 16, 2025, when the Blue Devils hit four versus Howard in the NCAA Durham Regional.

UP NEXT
The Blue Devils and Buckeyes will face off again on Sunday to close out action in the four-day invitational. First pitch is scheduled for 12:30 p.m. and will be broadcast on ACC Network Extra.

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

#GoDuke