Duke Battles Back to Defeat Arizona and Punches NCAA Super Regional Ticket

Sunday, May 17

Durham, N.C.

12 p.m.

Duke University

42-15

Arizona

37-17

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Duke	1	0	2	3	0	2	0	8	10	2
Arizona	0	2	2	2	0	0	0	6	6	1

Duke topped Arizona 9-4 in a winner-take-all Game 7 of the NCAA Durham Regional.

Photo by: Nat LeDonne / Duke Athletics

Duke Battles Back to Defeat Arizona and Punches NCAA Super Regional Ticket

5/17/2026 8:43:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2 Postgame Press Conference Photo Gallery Photo Gallery 2

DURHAM, N.C. – Twelfth-seeded Duke softball battled its way back through the elimination bracket, defeating Arizona twice Sunday afternoon to advance to its fourth NCAA Super Regional in the last five years. The Blue Devils claimed an 8-6 victory in the opening game to keep their season alive and force a winner-take-all game seven. The Duke offense carried its momentum into the final game, aided by strong pitching performances from junior Larissa Jacquez and sophomore Mallory Wheeler, to defeat Arizona 9-4 and punch its Super Regional ticket.

Senior D'Auna Jennings paced the offense in the two games, batting 6-for-7 with one home run and six runs scored. Senior Aminah Vega and sophomore Layla Lamar each batted 4-for-7 during the two games while combining to drive in nine of Duke's 17 total runs.

Jacquez (8-5) picked up both wins in the circle, tossing 4.0 scoreless innings of relief in the first game before earning the start in game two and working an additional 4.0 innings. The Eagle Pass, Texas, native allowed just two runs off six hits in her 8.0 total innings and collected three strikeouts.

HOW IT HAPPENED (GAME ONE)

Redshirt junior Jessica Oakland sparked the offense early with a solo home run straight out to center field to give Duke an early lead.
Arizona put together a two-out rally in the bottom of the second, connecting four straight hits to pull in front, 2-1.
Duke regained the lead at 3-2 in the following frame as Vega launched a two-run shot to right field. Her long ball brought in Jennings after she dropped a base hit into shallow center field.
The Wildcats used a pair of walks and a hit by pitch to load the bases early in the bottom of the third. Another free pass and a sacrifice fly plated two more runs, giving Arizona the one-run advantage, 4-3.
The Blue Devils answered again in the fourth inning, using a pair of long balls to surge back in front. Redshirt junior Kairi Rodriguez sent a two-run blast to left field, bringing home senior KK Mathis. Two batters later, Jennings homered to right to stretch the Duke margin to 6-4.
Arizona leveled the score in the bottom half of the inning, plating two unearned runs on an infield fielding error.
The fifth frame went scoreless before the Blue Devils were able to regain the lead in the top of the sixth. Graduate student Jada Baker reached on a fielder's choice before advancing to third on Jennings' two-out double to left center field. The duo was knocked in by Vega's base hit up the middle to push Duke ahead, 8-6.
Arizona attempted to rally in the final two innings but the Blue Devil defense slammed the door to set up a winner-take-all game seven.

HOW IT HAPPENED (GAME TWO)

Similar to game one, Oakland plated the first run in the opening frame. The shortstop lifted a sacrifice fly to center field to score Jennings from third.
Rodriguez led off the bottom of the second with a solo blast to left field. Baker drew a walk in the next at bat and moved to third on Jennings' base hit to center. Vega brought in Baker on a sacrifice fly to push Duke ahead, 3-0.
Jacquez worked her way around a pair of baserunners in the top of the third to post another scoreless frame in the third and maintain the three-run lead.
Arizona broke through in the top of the fourth, netting two runs off RBI singles from Emma Kavanagh and Regan Shockey to cut the deficit to 3-2.
The Blue Devils replied with a pair of two-run homers, one each from Vega and Lamar, to create a 7-2 gap.
The Wildcats stayed close by in the top of the fifth, tacking on two additional runs using three hits and a Blue Devil throwing error to pull within three at 7-4.
Vega and graduate student Tyrina Jones provided extra insurance runs in the bottom of the sixth with an RBI-double and solo home run, respectively, to seal the 9-4 victory.

NOTES

Duke moves to 19-12 all-time in NCAA Championship play.
The Blue Devils scored 12 of their 17 total runs on the day via home runs, recording four long balls in each game.
Rodriguez tallied her 100th career hit with a solo home run in the bottom of the second during the second game.
Vega matched Ana Gold's career home runs record of 54 with her two-run shot in the second game.
Vega set the Duke single-season doubles record with her 21st double of the season, passing Claire Davidson's mark of 20 in 2024.
Jennings extended her hitting streak to a team-high 12 games.

UP NEXT
The Blue Devils advance to their fourth NCAA Super Regional and will travel to Fayetteville, Arkansas, to face the fifth-seeded Razorbacks in a three-game series.

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

#GoDuke