Duke Holds on for 5-4 Win Over Charlotte in Nine Innings

Wednesday, March 8

Charlotte, NC

5 p.m.

Duke University

18-4

Charlotte

10-9

Duke

Charlotte

Duke Holds on for 5-4 Win Over Charlotte in Nine Innings

3/8/2023 11:40:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

CHARLOTTE – No. 15 Duke softball (18-4) defeated Charlotte (10-9), 5-4, after nine innings at Sue M. Daughtridge Stadium on Wednesday night.

Senior Gisele Tapia sent a long ball to the center field wall to push the go-ahead run across in the top of the ninth, scoring freshman D'Auna Jennings who reached on an infield single.

Four Blue Devils saw action in the circle, but it was junior Lillie Walker that is credited with the win after inheriting a bases loaded in the bottom of the seventh and ended the threat. Walker put in 2.2 innings of work and allowed two hits while collecting three strikeouts.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Batting fourth in the lineup, sophomore Ana Gold sent a two-run home run out to left field in the opening frame to give the Blue Devils a quick lead, 2-0.
The 49ers answered in their half of the second with a solo home run from Savanna Nguyen to cut the gap to one.
The Blue Devils kept the offense rolling, loading the bases twice in the next two innings, but were unable to push a run across.
Freshman Kairi Rodriguez added two more runs in the top of the sixth with a long ball over the left field wall to bring in classmate Aminah Vega who opened the inning with a double.
Charlotte battled back in the bottom of the seventh scoring three runs after loading the bases to even the score and force extra innings.
After a scoreless eighth inning, Jennings scored Duke's fifth run off Tapia's double off the centerfield wall to put the team ahead 5-4.
The 49ers attempted a two-out rally in the bottom of the ninth but came up short as Walker retired the final out and left the winning run stranded.

NOTES

The Blue Devils are now 3-0 in extra innings games this season and 11-10 all-time.
Gold has homered in four of the last five games, including three-straight games and tallied her seventh multi-RBI game of the year.
Jennings finished the night going 4-for-5 with one run scored.
Walker maintained her perfect ERA in 2.2 innings against the 49ers and moves to a 4-0 ledger.
Freshman Cassidy Curd earned her fifth start in the circle and is two strikeouts away from reaching 50 in her career.

UP NEXT
Duke welcomes Louisville to the Duke Softball Stadium this weekend for a three-game conference series. The first pitch is set for 6 p.m. on Friday.

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

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