They say the devil is in the details. But in Durham, the Blue Devils are in the details — and numbers:
44
Duke softball is currently hitting it out of the park. The Blue Devils’ game against N.C. State Sunday marked a new program high of 44 regular-season wins — and a finale to an impressive regular season for the team. Along with literally hitting it out of the park for a team total of 57 home runs this year, Duke was ranked No. 1 for the first time in program history at the beginning of April after the team grabbed back-to-back ACC wins.
Sunday, No. 5 Duke was determined to win against N.C. State. In the fifth inning, the Wolfpack bit back and surpassed the Blue Devils’ steady lead, but Duke sophomore D’Auna Jennings quickly took care of business. The Houston native slammed a two-RBI double and secured her team’s lead once again. Sophomore pitcher Cassidy Curd threw an impressive two scoreless innings, keeping the Wolfpack at bay after Jennings’ two-run hit. Next, the Blue Devils have an exam week before the ACC tournament, which will be hosted at home in Durham to finish out what has already been a successful season.
10
After losing two games in a row in its series against Florida State, Duke baseball came back swinging in the final game, going for an unstoppable 10 runs in the second inning and finishing the game 16-4. It didn’t look good in the beginning, with the Seminoles grabbing two runs in the first inning. But in the second, the Blue Devils could not be stopped. First, it was two singles by graduate student Zac Morris and freshman AJ Gracia respectively, then a double by graduate student Logan Bravo, putting four total runs up on the board. Then, three back-to-back home runs. The last time the Seminoles let in three consecutive home runs was in 2005.
It was a record-breaking game for the Blue Devils, too. Gracia broke the freshman record for RBIs set in 2018, and junior pitcher Ryan Higgins matched his career high of six strikeouts. Duke didn’t just avoid being swept by Florida State, it ended up sweeping the Seminoles. After the exam break, the Blue Devils will step up to the plate against Longwood for a Sunday double-header.
5
Duke track and field’s hammer throwers brought down the hammer at the Liberty Twilight Qualifier Wednesday. Graduate student Zoe Waddell won it all for the women, tallying her fifth top-five placement of the season — her fifth throw being her best. Waddell hurled the hammer 58.20m (190-11 feet), over eight feet further than her competitors.
Fives were in the cards Wednesday for two other top-five-scoring Blue Devils. Graduate student McKenzie Duwenhoegger threw a personal best that landed her in third place, and graduate student Myles Schreck launched the hammer to earn runner-up, his third top-five placement of the season. Duke track and field’s next stop is Georgia Tech, where the team will compete in the ACC Outdoor Championships next weekend.
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