Blue Devils Split Opening Day at UCF Invitational

Friday, February 6

Orlando, Fla.

2 p.m.

Duke University

0-1

Boston University

3-1

Duke

Boston U.

D'Auna Jennings and Tyrina Jones at UCF Black and Gold Invitational

Blue Devils Split Opening Day at UCF Invitational

2/6/2026 10:51:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

ORLANDO, FLORIDA – No. 23 Duke softball split its two games Friday at the UCF Black and Gold Invitational to open the 2026 season. The Blue Devils dropped a tight 2-1 decision to Boston University in the first game before bouncing back to defeat host UCF 5-2 in the nightcap.

Senior D'Auna Jennings led the offense in the two contests, finishing 4-for-7 with two runs scored. Graduate student Tyrina Jones made an immediate impact in her Blue Devil debut, batting 2-for-6 with two RBI.

Senior Cassidy Curd picked up the win in the circle, limiting the Knights to two runs off three hits while collecting a game-high seven strikeouts.

HOW IT HAPPENED VS. BOSTON UNIVERSITY

Boston University jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first, connecting a pair of base hits and stolen base to open the scoring.
Jennings tallied Duke's first hit in the top of the fourth with an infield single. Jennings moved up on a stolen base before coming home on a two-out single to right from Jones two batters later, knotting the score at 1-1.
Kylie Doherty pushed the Terriers ahead again in the bottom of the sixth with a solo home run to seal the win, 2-1.

HOW IT HAPPENED VS. UCF

The Knights used a pair of walks and a two-out double deep into left field to jump ahead 2-0 in the opening frame.
Redshirt junior Kairi Rodriguez put the Blue Devils on the board with a solo blast in the top of the second to make it a 2-1 game.
The Blue Devils added three more runs in the following frame, highlighted by senior Aminah Vega's two-RBI triple, to stretch their edge to 4-2.
Jones homered in the top of the sixth to extend the gap to 5-2.
The Knights were able to move two into scoring position in the bottom of the seventh but a groundout to shortstop ended the threat.

NOTES

Freshmen Gabriella Shadek and Jayla Stafford made their Blue Devil debuts in the opening game against the Terriers, earning a spot in the starting lineup as the designated player and first baseman, respectively.
Freshmen London Collins and Adelyn Matthews saw action against UCF, entering the game as pinch runners.
Junior Larissa Jacquez made her first start in a Blue Devil uniform and earned her 37th career start in the circle.
Duke is 11-5 all-time on opening day.
Jennings' lone run against the Terriers marked her 150th career run scored.
Shadek recorded the first RBI of her career in the top of the third versus UCF.
Rodriguez blasted the 13th home run of her career against the Knights.
Jones sent out her 15th career long ball during the nightcap with UCF.
Vega posted the sixth triple of her Blue Devil career.