Upcoming Event: Softball versus #13 Virginia Tech on May 8, 2026 at 3:30 p.m.
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3:30 p.m.
Softball
vs #13 Virginia Tech
Thursday, May 7
Charlottesville, Va.
5 p.m.
Duke University
39-13
16
vs
8
North Carolina
31-19
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | Runs R | Hits H | Errors E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Carolina | 2 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 11 | 3 |
| Duke | 0 | 4 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 6 | 16 | 20 | 1 |
Photo by: ACC/Andy Hancock
Duke Storms Back to Run-Rule North Carolina, Advances to ACC Semifinals
5/7/2026 10:17:00 PM | Softball
DURHAM, N.C. – Second-seeded Duke stormed back to erase a four-run deficit in the fourth inning, exploding for 12 unanswered runs to defeat 10th-seeded North Carolina, 16-8, in six innings Wednesday night in the ACC Championship quarterfinals at Palmer Park.
Duke improves to 39-13 on the year and advances to the semifinals for the sixth straight year. North Carolina closes out action in the tournament with a 31-19 overall record.
Redshirt junior Jessica Oakland led the charge offensively, batting 4-for-5 on the night with two doubles and four RBI. Senior KK Mathis contributed at the plate and in the circle, hitting 3-for-4 while driving in a pair of runs. Mathis also picked up the win after tossing 1.2 scoreless innings of relief for classmate Cassidy Curd.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Duke will face third-seeded Virginia Tech Friday afternoon in the semifinals. First pitch is set for 3:30 p.m., and will be broadcast on ACC Network.
To stay up to date with Blue Devils softball, follow the team on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook by searching "DukeSOFTBALL"
#GoDuke
Duke improves to 39-13 on the year and advances to the semifinals for the sixth straight year. North Carolina closes out action in the tournament with a 31-19 overall record.
Redshirt junior Jessica Oakland led the charge offensively, batting 4-for-5 on the night with two doubles and four RBI. Senior KK Mathis contributed at the plate and in the circle, hitting 3-for-4 while driving in a pair of runs. Mathis also picked up the win after tossing 1.2 scoreless innings of relief for classmate Cassidy Curd.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- North Carolina's first three batters loaded the bases on a hit by pitch, base hit and a walk. The Tar Heels then connected a pair of RBI-singles to plate the first two runs of the game and take an early lead.
- Freshman Adelyn Matthews opened the scoring for the Blue Devils in the bottom of the second, scoring classmate London Collins from second with an infield single. Â A few batters later, Oakland dropped a bases-clearing double into the gap in left center to put Duke in front, 4-2.
- The visitors cut the gap to 4-3 in the following frame with a two-out RBI-single from Michele Tarpey.
- North Carolina's offense exploded in the top of the fourth with a five-run frame, highlighted by back-to-back homers from Emily LeGette and Shelby Barbee, to regain the lead, 8-4.
- The Blue Devils clawed back with six runs in the home half. Three straight base hits and a triple from graduate student Tyrina Jones knocked in three runs. Sophomore Layla Lamar followed with an RBI-single up the middle to knot the score at 8-8. Mathis found the gap in left center field to bring in Lamar for the go-ahead run. Matthews kept the two-out rally alive, reaching on a fielder's choice to allow Mathis to score and put Duke ahead, 10-8.
- The fifth frame went blank for both sides before the Blue Devils' offense erupted again in the bottom of the sixth. Duke tacked on six additional runs off six hits and a Tar Heels' error to put the game out of reach, 16-8, and seal the run-rule victory.
- Oakland's double in the bottom of the second set the team's single-season doubles record. The Blue Devils now have 98 on the year.
- Oakland tallied her 17th multi-RBI outing of the season.
- Mathis made her seventh appearance in the circle and moves to 2-0 on the year.
- Jones recorded her second triple of the season and eighth of her collegiate career.
- The 24 combined runs marked the highest scoring game in ACC Championship history, passing the 19 runs of Clemson (10) versus Virginia Tech (9) in 2025.
- Duke tallied a season-high 20 hits during the contest, marking the third 20-plus hit outing in program lore.
Duke will face third-seeded Virginia Tech Friday afternoon in the semifinals. First pitch is set for 3:30 p.m., and will be broadcast on ACC Network.
To stay up to date with Blue Devils softball, follow the team on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook by searching "DukeSOFTBALL"
#GoDuke
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Mathis, KK (2-0)
L: Livengood, Jil (2-4)
Batting:
2B: Tarpey, Michele 1
HR: Barbee, Shelby 1 ; LeGette, Emily 1
RBI: Roberts, Lexie 1 ; Barbee, Shelby 1 ; Jennings, Raegan 1 ; LeGette, Emily 2 ; Tarpey, Michele 2
SH: Roberts, Lexie 1 ; Pierce, Kiannah 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Roberts, Lexie 3 ; Thompson, Sanaa 1 ; Barbee, Shelby 1 ; LeGette, Emily 2 ; Wilson, Sahara 1
SB: Thompson, Sanaa 1 ; Wilson, Sahara 1
HBP: Thompson, Sanaa 1
Batting:
2B: Oakland, Jessica 2 ; Shadek, Gabriella 1
3B: Jones, Tyrina 1
RBI: Mathis, KK 2 ; Oakland, Jessica 4 ; Vega, Aminah 2 ; Lamar, Layla 1 ; Jones, Tyrina 2 ; Matthews, Adelyn 2 ; Stafford, Jayla 1
SF: Mathis, KK 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Mathis, KK 2 ; Jennings, D'Auna 2 ; Terrell, Aleyah 1 ; Oakland, Jessica 1 ; Vega, Aminah 3 ; Collins, London 1 ; Lamar, Layla 1 ; Jones, Tyrina 1 ; Matthews, Adelyn 2 ; Shadek, Gabriella 1 ; Stafford, Jayla 1
SB: Matthews, Adelyn 1
Players Mentioned
OF
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
UTL
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
C/OF
/ Softball
INF
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