Duke Opens Women’s College World Series Against Oklahoma Thursday - Duke University (2024)

Duke Athletics

Softball 5/29/2024 3:23:00 PM

OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. – Tenth-seeded Duke is set to face second-seeded Oklahoma on Thursday at 2:30 p.m. (ET) in its opening game of the 2024 Women's College World Series (WCWS) at Devon Park.

The Blue Devils (52-7) are making their first appearance in program history at the WCWS. Duke advanced to the WCWS after defeating seventh-seeded Missouri in a best-of-three series. The Blue Devils opened the weekend with a 6-3 victory over the Tigers, before falling 3-1 on Saturday to force a winner-take-all game three. Duke then bounced back to win 4-3 in nine innings on Sunday to punch its ticket to Oklahoma City.

Oklahoma (54-6) is coming off a two-game sweep over 15th-seeded Florida State in the NCAA Norman Super Regional. The Sooners run-ruled the Seminoles, 11-3, in the opening game before clinching the series with a 4-2 victory on Friday. Oklahoma is vying to become the first softball program to win four straight NCAA titles.

HOW TO FOLLOW
Thursday's game is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. (ET)/1:30 p.m. (CT). The contest will be broadcast on ESPN with Kevin Brown and Amanda Scarborough on the call. Alyssa Lang will serve as the field reporter. Live stats will be available through NCAA.com

WATCH | LIVE STATS

INSIDE THE SERIES
Duke and Oklahoma will meet for the third time in program history and the second time this season. The Sooners lead the all-time series, 2-0, after claiming a 3-0 victory on opening day last year in Irvine, Calif. The two teams last met on Feb. 8 in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico when Oklahoma earned the win, 4-0.

QUICK HITS

• Head coach Marissa Young will make her third appearance at the Women's College World Series, but first as a head coach, after previously playing for Michigan in the 2001 and 2002 WCWS.
• Young is the first Black head coach to lead a team to the WCWS.
• Over the last four years, all six seniors were able to play in their home states, in front of friends and family, except Lillie Walker – from Inola, Oklahoma – until this weekend. Inola is just two hours away from Devon Park and Walker grew up attending games at the stadium.
• Senior Claire Davidson (76) and sophom*ore D'Auna Jennings (76) are both five hits away from breaking the single-season program record of 80, set by Jennings last season.
• Davidson sits two away from the single-season home run record of 19, set by junior Ana Gold in 2023.
• Multi-hit club – Duke's trio of Claire Davidson (23), D'Auna Jennings (21) and Aminah Vega (20) each own 20+ multi-hit performances on the season to lead the Blue Devils.
• Claire Davidson has hit safely in 11 out of her last 12 games, including eight multi-hit performances during the stretch.
• D'Auna Jennings owns an 8-game hitting streak. In the 2024 NCAA Tournament, she is 12-of-23 with four RBI, one triple and two home runs. The two home runs were the first two of her collegiate career. Jennings owns 10 multi-hit games over her last 18 contests.
• In the 2024 NCAA Tournament, Cassidy Curd has totaled a 0.65 ERA in 21.1 innings with 10 hits, two earned runs, 22 strikeouts and three wins.She earned both wins against seventh-seeded Missouri to send Duke to the WCWS.
• Duke has won its last four extra-inning contests – all have come in the 2024 postseason (ACC & NCAA Tournament).The Blue Devils have scored seven runs in the ninth and 10th innings this postseason, including four in the ninth at No. 10 Missouri.
• In the 2024 NCAA Tournament, Duke has scored eight runs over the first four innings, but has come alive in the fifth through ninth innings scoring 27 runs.In the 2024 postseason, the Blue Devils have scored 12 runs over the first four innings and 35 runs from innings 5-10.

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Duke Centennial
In 2024, Duke celebrates its Centennial, marking one hundred years since Trinity College became Duke University. Duke will use this historic milestone to deepen the understanding of its history, inspire pride and strengthen bonds and partnerships, and prepare for a second century of continued excellence and impactful leadership. To learn more, please visit 100.duke.edu

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