Baker, Malau’ulu Lead No. 21 Duke Past Louisville, 7-5

Friday, March 28

Louisville, Ky.

6 p.m.

Duke University

23-12, 0

Louisville

20-13, 0

Duke

Louisville

Baker, Malau’ulu Lead No. 21 Duke Past Louisville, 7-5

3/28/2025 10:50:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Redshirt junior Jada Baker and graduate student Thessa Malau'ulu powered the offense to lead No. 21 Duke (23-12, 5-5 ACC) past Louisville (20-13,3-7 ACC), 7-5, Friday night at Ulmer Stadium.

The duo finished 2-for-4 during the conference series opener, while combining to drive in five of Duke's seven runs.

The pitching staff of junior Cassidy Curd, graduate student Dani Drogemuller and freshman Hailey Shuler shared the circle during the contest. Curd earned the start and tossed 2.2 scoreless innings, allowing just two hits. Shuler entered in the bottom of the third and tossed 1.1 innings of relief. Drogemuller came in to shut down the Cardinals in the fifth, working the final 3.0 innings to pick up the win.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Malau'ulu opened the scoring early with a one-out single to left field before advancing on a fielding error to drive in the first two runs. Baker followed with another two-RBI single to put the Blue Devils in front, 4-0, in the opening frame.
Senior Ana Gold extended Duke's edge to 6-0 in the top of the fourth with a base hit through the left side. Her knock scored junior Aleyah Terrell and sophomore Amiah Burgess, who reached on a single and fielder's choice, respectively.
The Cardinals answered in the home half with a five-run frame, highlighted by a two-run shot from Bri Despines, to make it a 6-5 ballgame.
Baker added an insurance run in the top of the seventh with a solo home run over the left field wall to push Duke ahead, 7-5.
Drogemuller sat down three of the final four batters she faced, allowing one to reach on a single to right field, to seal the victory.

NOTES

Baker recorded her fourth home run of the season and ninth of her career.
The Longwood, Fla., native has homered in back-to-back games after tallying a two-run shot against East Carolina Wednesday.
Drogemuller moves her season ledger to 9-5 after 21 appearances in the circle.
Curd earned her 15th start of the season.
The Blue Devils shift the all-time series to 11-5, including an 7-2 record when playing in Louisville.

UP NEXT
The Blue Devils and Cardinals continue the three-game conference series Saturday afternoon. First pitch is slated for 2 p.m., and the game will be broadcast on ACC Network with Krista Blunk and Jenny Dalton-Hill on the call.

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