No. 12 Virginia Falls In Series Opener At No. 23 DukeNo. 12 Virginia Falls In Series Opener At No. 23 Duke
Jamie Holt/Virginia Athletics

No. 12 Virginia Falls In Series Opener At No. 23 Duke

Box Score

DURHAM, N.C. – A pair of home runs were the difference on Friday night (April 2) as No. 12 Virginia (31-4, 9-3 ACC) dropped the series opener at No. 23 Duke (26-11, 11-2 ACC) by a score of 5-2 at the Smith Family Softball Stadium.

HOW IT HAPPENED
Duke got on the board first with a two-run home run from Kairi Rodriguez in the second inning.

Virginia loaded the bases with two outs in the third inning, but Duke was able to get out of the jam by coaxing a fly ball to left to end the frame.

The Blue Devils doubled the lead in the fifth inning with a bases-loaded double off the wall in left center from KK Mathis to take the lead to 4-0.

The Cavaliers cut the lead in half in the sixth with a two-run shot to left from Reagan Hickey. Alex Call scored on the play after reaching on a single to open the inning. Duke responded, however, with a solo shot in the bottom of the sixth to take it back out to a three-run lead.


Courtney Layne (10-3) took the loss, allowing two runs on five hits with a walk and three strikeouts through 4.0 innings of work.

Cassidy Curd (12-2) picked up the win in relief, allowing one run on one hit with three strikeouts through

NOTING THE HOOS

  • Reagan Hickey’s home run was her eighth of the season and traveled 272 feet off the bat.

    FROM HEAD COACH JOANNA HARDIN
    “Overall we didn’t play our best softball tonight. Duke was able to take advantage of a few mistakes and free passes. We didn’t capitalize on our opportunities, specifically when we had bases loaded in the third inning. Courtney (Layne) was excellent coming back and putting up 3 zeroes after the two-run home run. It was really great to see her bounce back and execute under pressure. I know we are a better team that we played today and I trust that we will come back out tomorrow and play to our full potential.”

    UP NEXT FOR THE HOOS
    Virginia and Duke continue the series on Friday (April 3) with game two of the series at 6 p.m. on ACCNX.