No. 7 Duke Defeats Kentucky, 6-3, to Conclude Opening Weekend

Sunday, February 9

Clearwater, Fla.

11 a.m.

Duke University

3-2

Kentucky

4-1

Duke

Kentucky

No. 7 Duke Defeats Kentucky, 6-3, to Conclude Opening Weekend

2/9/2025 4:18:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

CLEARWATER, Fla. – Seventh-ranked Duke defeated Kentucky, 6-3, Sunday afternoon to conclude the season opening weekend at the NFCA Leadoff Classic in Clearwater, Fla. With the win, the Blue Devils improved to 3-2 on the year.

Junior pitcher Cassidy Curd was recognized for her overall weekend performance by being named to the All-Tournament team. Curd was stellar in the circle, posting a 1.47 ERA in three appearances while fanning 17 in her 19.0 innings of work.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Junior D'Auna Jennings jumpstarted the Blue Devil offense in the top of the first with a leadoff single to left. The Houston, Texas, native moved to second on a passed ball, advanced to third on a fly out to center and scored on a sacrifice fly to left by junior Aminah Vega to put Duke in front, 1-0.
Kentucky answered right back in the bottom of the first with an RBI-double off the bat of Peyton Plotts to even the score, 1-1.
Duke pushed ahead again in the top of the third with a four-run frame, highlighted by a two-RBI double from Vega to create a 5-1 lead.
The Wildcats added another run in the home half to make it a 5-2 game heading into the top of the fifth.
Vega extended the Blue Devils' edge in the final frame with an RBI-double to the center field wall to score senior Ana Gold. Gold reached on a hit by pitch before advancing to second on a passed ball.
Kentucky attempted to close the gap in the bottom of the seventh, pushing one more run across the plate before the Blue Devils secured the final out for the 6-3 victory.

NOTES

Curd earned her third start of the weekend and improves to 2-0 in the circle. The Port St. Lucie, Fla., native scattered seven hits across 7.0 innings, while allowing three runs with three strikeouts.
Vega led the offense against the Wildcats with two hits and Duke's only four runs batted in. The second baseman had a strong opening weekend, going 8-for-16 with four doubles, nine RBI and three runs scored.
Jennings went 2-for-4 during the contest with a pair of singles and two runs. The center fielder finished the first five games hitting 8-for-18 while accounting for seven of Duke's 25 runs.
Jennings and Vega have now registered a hit in five consecutive games.

UP NEXT
The Blue Devils travel over to Gainesville, Fla., to compete in the Bubly Invitational Feb. 14-16 at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium. Duke will face Boston College, Providence, Binghamton and host Florida in the three-day invitational.

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

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