No. 24 Duke Sneaks Past No. 19 Stanford, 6-4

Friday, March 27

Durham, N.C.

1:30 p.m.

Duke University

23-10, 9-1

Stanford

19-9, 8-5

Stanford

Duke

No. 24 Duke Sneaks Past No. 19 Stanford, 6-4

3/27/2026 4:25:00 PM | Softball

Box Score Photo Gallery

DURHAM, N.C. - In a seesaw series opener, No. 24 Duke came back for a 6-4 victory against No. 19 Stanford Friday afternoon at Smith Family Stadium.

The Blue Devils led 3-0 before Stanford had recorded an out, only to have the Cardinal (19-9, 8-5 ACC) take a 4-3 advantage in the fourth. Duke (23-10, 9-1 ACC) scooted past for the final time in the bottom of the fourth and tacked on an insurance run in the fifth.

Stanford's four-game road winning streak was snapped while Duke picked up its fourth consecutive ACC victory, none by more than two runs. Of the Blue Devils' nine ACC wins this spring, five have come by two or fewer runs.

Duke's six runs were powered by redshirt junior Jessica Oakland, who drove in four with a three-run blast in the first and an RBI single in the fourth. Graduate student Tyrina Jones assisted the offense with a 2-for-3 performance while seniors D'Auna Jennings and Aminah Vega combined to score four runs and collect three hits.

HOW IT HAPPENED

After stranding two Cardinal in the top of the first, Duke broke through in the bottom half with three runs for a 3-0 advantage. Jennings and Vega led off with consecutive singles before Oakland brought all three home with a ball over the right center field wall.
Stanford made it a 3-1 contest in the top of the second with a solo blast to right from Joie Economides.
Both sides went quietly until the top of the fourth, when the Cardinal took a 4-3 lead. With one out and a runner on second, Zoe Prystajko drew a walk to bring up Sophia Jin, who laid down a bunt to load the bases. Taryn Kern was hit by a pitch to force in a run. River Mahler followed with a single up the middle that tied the game at 3-3 and refilled the bases. After a fielder's choice, a two-out, bases-loaded walk to Jade Berry forced in the go-ahead run.
The Blue Devils answered in the bottom of the frame with two runs to regain the lead at 5-4. Jennings drew a one-out walk and moved to second on a wild pitch. Vega sent a ball into the center field gap for a double and moved Jennings to third. Oakland singled to left, plating Jennings. Vega also came home as the left fielder misplayed the ball.
Duke pushed its lead to 6-4 in the bottom of the fifth. Sophomore Layla Lamar led off with a double, moved to third on a sacrifice bunt and pinch runner Aleyah Terrell came home on pinch hitter Gabriella Shadek's sacrifice fly to center field.
Stanford put two on in the seventh but could not even the score. With one out, Economides drew a walk and Prystajko singled to center, but a double play ended the contest.

NOTES

Senior Cassidy Curd earned her 16th start of the season after throwing 3.1 innings, surrendering four runs on seven hits and two walks.
Redshirt freshman Ava Bradshaw picked up the win and moves to 4-1 on the year after entering in the fourth inning. Bradshaw allowed just one hit with a pair of walks in her 1.1 innings.
Sophomore Mallory Wheeler finished the game by earning her third save of the campaign, going 2.1 innings and yielding a single and two walks.
Oakland launched her fifth home run of the season and third in the last four games while driving in a season-high four RBI during the contest.
Jennings and Vega each extended their hitting streaks to five straight games, finishing 1-for-3 and 2-for-4, respectively.

UP NEXT
Duke and Stanford continue the three-game set Saturday with a 5 p.m. first pitch on ACC Network.

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