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Virginia Battles For 12 Innings In 1-0 Loss At No. 3 Duke

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DURHAM, N.C. – Pitching and defense carried the night Friday (April 19) as Virginia (28-15, 11-8 ACC) battled No. 3 Duke (39-4, 17-2 ACC) for 12 innings at McWhorter Stadium. The homestanding Blue Devils won the game 1-0 on an error in the final frame.

HOW IT HAPPENED
Duke threatened in the first and third, loading the bases with one out in both innings. Each time, Eden Bigham retired the next two batters to get out of the jam unscathed. She struck out back-to-back batters to end the first and got a pop out and fly out to end the third.

The Cavaliers got two in scoring position in the sixth with two outs, but Duke got the strikeout to end the threat and keep the game scoreless.

Duke put a runner at third with one out in the eighth inning but again the Cavalier defense came through with a popped up bunt snagged by Bigham and a groundout to second to send us to the ninth.

The Blue Devils loaded the bases for a third time on the night in the ninth inning, but once again the Hoos got out of the jam.

Duke grabbed the win in the 12th inning, capitalizing on an error to bring the winning run home. With two on and one out, Jada Baker pushed a bunt to the right of the circle in a sacrifice attempt. The throw to first was off the mark and the winning run came home to give the Blue Devils the 1-0 victory.

Madison Harris (7-4) took the loss in relief, allowing the one unearned run on three hits with three walks and two strikeouts in 2.1 innings of work. She came on to start the 10th inning.

Jala Wright (14-1) picked up the win in the complete-game effort. She allowed four hits with 14 strikeouts and two walks.

NOTES ON THE GAME

  • It marked the third time this season the Cavaliers went to extra-innings and UVA is 2-1 in extra-inning games.
  • Eden Bigham worked 9.0 scoreless with nine strikeouts in the start.
  • The 12-inning game is the longest game (by innings) that Duke softball has ever played.
  • Virginia stranded 16 Duke runners on the basepath, while Virginia had eight left on base in the battle.

FROM HEAD COACH JOANNA HARDIN
“We saw a lot of fight and competitiveness tonight. Eden Bigham threw the ball exceptionally well and Madi Harris picked up where she left off. We had a couple of opportunities and couldn’t get a run home, but Jala Wright is a great pitcher and kept us off balance with the changeup all night. It was a tough game and a tough way to lose. I was proud of the fight and effort. We have to find a way to scratch a run out when we get chances. Our pitching staff was phenomenal and the defense made some big plays. We played fearlessly and I was proud of that. We have to pick it up and turn it around to be ready to go tomorrow.”

UP NEXT FOR THE HOOS
Due to expected inclement weather in the area on Sunday, Virginia and Duke will play a doubleheader on Saturday (April 20) with first pitch of game one set for 1 p.m.

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