Oakland’s Career Night Sends No. 18 Duke Past Liberty, 12-5

Wednesday, April 8

Lynchburg, Va.

3 p.m.

Duke University

29-11

Liberty

18-20

Duke

Liberty

Oakland’s Career Night Sends No. 18 Duke Past Liberty, 12-5

4/8/2026 6:31:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

LYNCHBURG, Va. – Redshirt junior Jessica Oakland drove in a career-high six runs, all within the first two innings with a two-RBI double and a grand slam, to lead Duke past Liberty, 12-5, Wednesday.

Oakland finished 2-for-5 at the plate with her 11th multi-RBI outing of the season. Senior Aminah Vega reached in every at bat, going 2-for-2 and drawing three walks with four runs scored. The freshman duo of Gabriella Shadek and Adelyn Matthews rounded out Duke's multi-hit performances, each driving in one run while batting 2-for-3 and 2-for-4, respectively.

In the circle, redshirt freshman Ava Bradshaw earned her ninth start of the season, working the first 2.0 innings, surrendering just one run off two hits. Junior Larissa Jacquez and sophomore Mallory Wheeler also saw action, entering for 1.0 and 4.0 innings of relief, respectively. Wheeler was credited with the win and improves to 8-4 on the year.

The Blue Devils extend their win streak to six straight games, moving to 29-11 overall, while the Flames fall to 18-20 on the year.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Oakland put the Blue Devils in front early with a two-RBI double in the top of the first. She plated senior D'Auna Jennings and Vega after the duo reached on back-to-back walks to open the game.
Matthews sparked a two-out rally in the bottom of the second by sending a base hit up the middle. Another pair of walks to Jennings and Vega loaded the bases, setting Oakland up for a grand slam to left center field, extending Duke's advantage to 6-0.
Liberty put together a double, single and fielder's choice to push its first run across the plate in the bottom of the second.
The Blue Devils added two in the top of the third, taking advantage of a wild pitch and two Flames' errors to make it an 8-1 game.
The hosts responded with four runs over the following two frames to pull within three, 8-5.
Vega answered with a solo home run over the left field wall in the top of the fifth to make it a 9-5 Blue Devil edge.
Duke's offense remained hot over the final two frames, plating three unanswered runs on RBI knocks from Shadek and Matthews and a sacrifice fly from graduate student Tyrina Jones, to pull away with the 12-5 victory.

NOTES

Oakland recorded the 11th grand slam in program history and team's fourth of the season.
Jennings and Vega each extended their hitting streaks to a team-best 12 games.
Vega tallied her 10th home run of the year.
The Blue Devils are now 10-0 in true road games this season.
Duke leads the all-time series with Liberty, 8-2, including a 2-1 mark when playing in Lynchburg.

UP NEXT
The Blue Devils head over to Chapel Hill for a three-game conference series with North Carolina. Friday's series opener against the Tar Heels is set for 6 p.m.

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