Home Runs Lead No. 16 Duke Past Syracuse in Doubleheader Friday

Friday, March 14

Durham, N.C.

4 p.m.

Duke University

18-8, 0

Syracuse

16-7, 0

Syracuse

Duke

Home Runs Lead No. 16 Duke Past Syracuse in Doubleheader Friday

3/15/2025 12:14:00 AM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

DURHAM, N.C. – Home runs from graduate student Thessa Malau'ulu, senior Ana Gold and freshman Brooklinn Thomas led No. 16 Duke past Syracuse in Friday night's doubleheader at Duke Softball Stadium.

The Blue Devils defeated the Orange, 3-1, in nine innings in the first game before securing a 6-0 victory in the nightcap to clinch the conference series.

Duke's pitching staff of graduate student Dani Drogemuller and juniors Cassidy Curd and Sophie Garner-MacKinnon were stellar in the circle during the twin bill. Drogemuller tossed all 9.0 innings in the opening game, allowing one run off four hits with four strikeouts. Curd and Garner-MacKinnon combined to shut out Syracuse in the second game, limiting the Orange to just three hits during the contest.

HOW IT HAPPENED (GAME ONE)

Junior D'Auna Jennings sparked the offense in the opening frame, reaching on a leadoff bunt before moving up on a stolen base and an infield single. Jennings came home on a groundout from sophomore Amiah Burgess to put Duke ahead, 1-0.
Syracuse used a sacrifice fly to centerfield to plate its lone run in the top of the third and even the score at 1-1.
The game became a pitcher's duel between Drogemuller and Syracuse's Madison Knight as both sides combined to allow just five hits over the next four frames to keep it a 1-1 game and force extra innings.
Thomas finally broke through in the bottom of the ninth with a two-run homer out of left center field to walk it off, 3-1.

HOW IT HAPPENED (GAME TWO)

Gold opened the scoring in the second game with a two-run shot to left field in the bottom of the fourth. Her long ball also scored junior Aminah Vega, who led off with a base hit up the middle.
Three batters later, Malau'ulu extended Duke's edge to 4-0 with another two-run home run, bringing in redshirt sophomore Kairi Rodgriguez from second.
The Blue Devils added another run in the following frame after taking advantage of a Syracuse fielding error to pull ahead, 5-0.
Malau'ulu went yard for the second time in the bottom of the sixth with a solo shot over the left field wall to round out Duke's six runs.
In the top of the seventh, Syracuse moved two baserunners into scoring position on a hit by pitch and a one-out double to left field before the Blue Devil defense turned a double play to end the game and seal the shutout victory.

NOTES

Malau'ulu recorded the first two home runs of her career during the nightcap.
Vega scored her 100th career run after coming in on Gold's home run in game two.
Drogemuller moves to 7-3 while Curd improves to 7-4 in the circle.
Duke is 19-11 all-time in extra-inning games.
The Blue Devils have won 13 of their last 14 conference series.

UP NEXT
Duke and Syracuse conclude the three-game set Saturday afternoon. First pitch is set for 2 p.m. and the game will be broadcast on ACC Network with Kevin Fitzgerald and Cat Osterman calling the action.

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