Marissa Young: Duke softball 'playing for each other' in elimination showdown vs. Alabama

One day after suffering a run-rule loss to Oklahoma in its first-ever Women’s College World Series game, Duke found itself facing an early deficit in Friday’s elimination game. Alabama took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning, but the Blue Devils responded in the bottom of the second to tie things up.

That type of answer showed Duke’s mentality in Oklahoma City, according to head coach Marissa Young.

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“They’re a resilient group and they don’t want their season to end,” Young told ESPN’s Holly Rowe. “So they’re coming out, competing, playing together, playing for each other, especially for our seniors.”

The Duke defense made some huge plays, as well – the biggest of which came in the third inning. Kali Heivilin hit a shot out to left field, but Amiah Burgess reached up over the wall to bring it back into the park, taking away a home run.

Duke’s ability to help pitcher Cassidy Curd out is a big reason the Blue Devils are in the WCWS, and Young said it goes back to their approach each game.

“They want to make plays for her,” Young said. “They know she’s pitching her heart out for us out there on the mound and they live for those plays.”

More on Duke’s path to the WCWS

Duke’s journey to the WCWS started with a banner 2024 season, bringing a 52-8 overall record to Oklahoma City – including a 20-4 mark in ACC play en route to a conference title. However, the Blue Devils didn’t get to host a regional, and the road through the Super Regional wasn’t easy.

In the opening game in the Super Regional, Duke and Missouri were tied at 3-3 entering the fifth inning when Aminah Vega broke the tie with a two-run double to put the Blue Devils on top 5-3. Duke went on to get the 6-3 victory to take a 1-0 lead in the series.

In Game 2 on Saturday, Missouri struck first with a two-run single in the fourth inning before adding one more to grab a 3-0 lead. Duke scored once in the fifth, but never crossed the plate again as the Tigers went on to force a decisive elimination game on Sunday.

Pitching and defense were the name of the game for both teams through the first part of the game. Duke only mustered three hits through the first six innings against Laurin Krings while Curd held Missouri to just two during that time. It led to a scoreless affair heading into the seventh inning and into extras.

In the ninth inning, at long last, Duke scored a run. D’Auna Jennings’ second career home run gave the Blue Devils the lead en route to not only a Super Regional victory, but also the program’s first trip to Oklahoma City for the Women’s College World Series in program history.