Duke’s softball game against Missouri on Sunday was an absolute pitchers’ duel until the ninth inning.
The No. 10 Blue Devils and No. 7 Tigers were tied scoreless until the top of the ninth, when leadoff hitter D’Auna Jennings hit a solo home run over the right field fence to give Duke a 1-point lead. -0.
REQUIRED READING:Survivors: How Missouri softball, with the end in sight again, created a super regional rubber game
The home run propelled Duke to a four-run lead, which was ultimately enough to fend off Missouri 4-3 on Sunday night to earn a trip to its first Women’s College World Series.
Punched ticket.
The Tigers weren’t completely finished after allowing four runs, as Abby Hay hit a three-run home run in the bottom of the ninth before Duke could close the door.
Duke pitcher Cassidy Curd was electric in the circle, pitching eight innings and allowing two runs on six hits with seven strikeouts on the night. Meanwhile, Tigers ace Laurin Krings was also extremely effective, totaling eight innings and allowing just one run on four hits and three strikeouts. Krings was replaced after allowing the solo home run in the ninth.
Here are the live updates and highlights from the Blue Devil’s historic victory:
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Duke vs Missouri Softball: Live Scores, Updates, Highlights
Final: Duke 4, Missouri 3
20:51: That’s all. Duke wins with the lineout to the center. The Blue Devils headed to their first WCWS.
8:50 p.m.: Missouri gets a baserunner with a single.
20:47: Interesting move: Duke brings Curd back in to try to get the final out.
20:46: Big out for Duke, as Walker gets a grounder that results in an out. The Blue Devils are one away.
20:44: The Tigers said this game is not over. Hay hits a three-run homer to cut Duke’s lead to 4-3 with one out in the bottom of the ninth. The tying run now comes to the plate.
20:41: Walker gets a grounder, resulting in an out at first base. However, Missouri moves the runners to second and third on the out. However, those two running backs still don’t matter with the four-run cushion.
20:38: Missouri says not so fast. The Tigers put runners on first and second on consecutive singles to start the inning. Curd’s night is over, when Lillie Walker relieves her.
20:35: Duke returns to Curd to close this out.
20:34: Duke is finally locked in and needs just three outs to make history. Missouri batters approach the bottom of the ninth.
20:33: As good as it gets in this frame for Duke, who hits another one on a bloop to right field by Torres to give him a 4-0 lead. That’s three consecutive hits for Missouri.
8:30 pm: Gold turns right to score Burress, giving Duke a 3-0 lead. It will be interesting to hear Missouri’s decision to recall Krings for Pannell, who was just replaced by Marissa McCann.
20:27: What an entrance from Duke. Frelick is hit by a pitch, then Burress hits a triple to right field to give the Blue Devils a 2-0 lead. Duke is inches away from his first WCWS appearance.
20:22: After a review, the umpires confirm that Jennings touched home plate on his home run jog. It would have been a massive turn of events. Missouri also retires Krings for closer Taylor Pannell.
20:18: Wow. Duke breaks through with a solo home run by Jennings. What a success at a huge time.
Eighth inning: Duke 0, Missouri 0
20:14: Check me out if you’ve heard this before: Both pitchers go three up and three down again. Curd passes the eighth, now we head to the ninth.
20:08: Tapia flies to the center to finish the frame. There are simply no words for these pitching performances.
20:02: Duke targets his first runner with a small ball, as Baker tries to make the bunt, but jumps into the catcher’s glove for an out two.
19:58: Krings returned to Missouri to start the eighth inning, the first of extras.
Seventh inning: Duke 0, Missouri 0
19:56: Curd gets the strikeout to get out of the inning and she is absolutely stoked. We head into extra innings with no scores.
19:54: Missouri with its first runner in more than four innings after Crenshaw’s single. Two outs in the seventh.
19:52: Only domination of both within the circle. Curd has retired 14 in a row after the strikeout.
19:48: Curd knocks out the first batter he faces in the seventh, raising his retirement streak to 13 consecutive batters. Just electricity from both pitchers here with the season on the line.
19:47: There’s not much more to say than if you like throwing, you’ll enjoy this game. Krings is simply untouchable at this point. He has now retired 13 batters in a row.
Sixth inning: Duke 0, Missouri 0
19:42: Curd retired the Tigers in order, so far just a pitching masterclass.
19:33: Krings puts in another zero. He has now retired 10 consecutive Duke batters. Curd has to tie it again at the end of the sixth.
19:33: Missouri football coach Eli Drinkwitz appeared in the stands on the Keynote USA broadcast supporting the softball team.
7:30 pm: Curd’s pitching line so far: five innings, two hits, four strikeouts, no walks.
Fifth inning: Duke 0, Missouri 0
19:27: There’s not much to update other than the sheer mastery of both launchers. Curd sets Missouri in order. A couple of quick innings in a row.
19:21: Departures arrive quickly. Duke goes up three and goes back down three to turn the inning around. Missouri batters approach the bottom of the fifth.
Fourth inning: Duke 0, Missouri 0
19:14: Six up, six down for both teams in the fourth inning. Let’s go to the fifth!
19:07: Duke retreats in order, with Curd returning to the bottom frame.
19:05: It certainly feels like a pitchers’ duel so far, as Krings struck out Frelick and Burgess to start the fourth inning.
Third inning: Duke 0, Missouri 0
6:57 pm: Curd got out of trouble without problems, as he got the last out of the third inning with a fly ball.
6:56 pm: Curd fights to get two outs, while Cahalan sacrifices Lenger to second base before Curd forces Laird to fly.
6:52 pm: Lenger hits a leadoff single to start the bottom half of the inning for the Tigers.
6:49 pm: Vega fly out to left field to end the inning for Duke. Both offensives without anything coming so far.
6:48 pm: Krings gets two quick outs to start the third. He seems to have adapted very well.
Second inning: Duke 0, Missouri 0
6:42 pm: Curd gets Walker to finish the inning. We may have a pitching duel on our hands.
6:40 pm: Curd throws out Missouri’s first two batters in short order. It’s been extremely difficult so far, the Tigers hitters are struggling to make solid contact.
6:35 pm: Duke falls to 1-2-3 after putting Krings in a tough spot in the first. Missouri’s order is as follows.
6:34 pm: Krings gets a bunt from Torres and throws her out at first, leaving Baker with two outs.
6:31 pm: Gold goes to third to start the inning, and Krings now faces Torres with one out.
First inning: Duke 0, Missouri 0
6:22 pm: He got off to a strong start, with back-to-back strikeouts to start the bottom half of the first inning. His stuff is electric so far.
6:17 pm: Duke is unable to capitalize on its early scoring opportunity as Frelick flies out and Burgess strikes out to end the inning. The Blue Devils take the field.
6:12 pm: Consecutive singles by Davidson and Vega put runners on first and third for Duke after Jennings’ leadoff strikeout.
17:47: Here’s Duke’s starting lineup with Cassidy Curd getting the nod in the circle:
- 1. CF D’Auna Jennings
- 2. RF Claire Davidson
- 3. 2B Aminah Vega
- 4. Cinematographer Frankie Frelick
- 5. L.F. Amiah Burgess
- 6. 3B Ana Oro
- 7. C Kelly Torres
- 8. SS Jada Baker
- 9. 1B Gisele Tapia
What channel is Duke vs Missouri softball on today?
- Television channel: Keynote USAU
- Transmission: Keynote USA App, Fubo
Duke’s softball game against Missouri on Sunday will be broadcast live on Keynote USAU, with streaming options available on the Keynote USA app or Fubo, which is offering a free trial to potential subscribers.
Duke vs Missouri softball start time
- Date: Sunday May 26
- Time: 6 pm Eastern Time
Duke’s softball game against Missouri begins at 6 p.m. ET on Sunday, May 26 at Mizzou Softball Stadium in Columbia, Missouri.
REQUIRED READING:Survivors: How Missouri softball, with the end in sight again, created a super regional rubber game
Duke softball schedule 2024
Here are the last five Duke softball scores. To view the Blue Devils’ complete 2024 schedule, click here.
- Friday May 17: Duke 6, Morgan State 1
- Saturday May 18: Duke 8, South Carolina 0 (6 innings)
- Sunday May 19: Duke 10, South Carolina 1
- Friday May 24: Duke 6, Missouri 3
- Saturday May 25: Missouri 3, Duke 1
2024 Missouri Softball Schedule
Here are the last five Missouri softball results. To view the Tigers’ complete 2024 schedule, click here.
- Saturday May 18: Missouri 4, Washington 1
- Sunday May 19: Missouri 5, Omaha 1
- Sunday May 19: Missouri 1, Omaha 0 (9 innings)
- Friday, May 24: Duke 6, Missouri 3
- Saturday May 25: Missouri 3, Duke 1
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