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Duke softball defeats Florida State to win ACC Tournament Championship: Score, highlights from Blue Devils' win

ehsan kassim, usa today network
·8 min read

Duke softball is the ACC Tournament Champion for the second time in program history.

The Blue Devils (47-6, 20-4 ACC) defeated No. 16 Florida State (43-13, 19-5) to win its first ACC Tournament since 2021 and the second in program history. Duke also won the ACC regular season championship and took three of four games against the defending runner-ups from 2023.

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Cassidy Curd picked up the victory, retiring 11 of the 12 hitters she faced. She came on in relief of Jala Wright, who left after FSU took a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the fourth. The Blue Devils responded with two runs in the bottom of the fourth and used a four-run sixth inning to take its first lead of the game.

Ana Gold had the game-tying RBI and Gisele Tapia's single in the sixth with the bases loaded pushed the lead for Duke to 6-3 and the eventual win.

Here are the highlights from Saturday's ACC Championship game for Duke softball:

Duke vs. Florida State softball ACC Tournament Championship Game score updates

All times in Eastern Standard:

3:46 p.m.: Cassidy Curd finishes off FSU to help the Blue Devils pick up their second ACC Tournament Championship. Curd retired 11 of the 12 Seminoles hitters she faced in relief of Jala Wright. Duke trailed 3-0 but scored the final six runs. The Blue Devils are heavily expected to host a Regional and Super Regional.

3:37 p.m.: Duke scores four runs and sends 10 to the plate in the bottom of the sixth to go from down one to up 6-3. The Blue Devils need just three outs to pick up the victory and their second ACC Tournament Championship.

Devyn Flaherty, Jahni Kerr and Amaya Ross are due up for the Seminoles.

Gisele Tapia with a 2-run single

3:35 p.m: Gisele Tapia gets a two-run single on a blooper to left field to give Duke a 6-3 lead. On the next play, Ashtyn Danley was unable to handle a bunt back to her. The bases are loaded again for Duke.

Duke takes a 4-3 lead on a fielder's choice

3:32 p.m.: Jada Baker hit a grounder back to second baseman Devyn Flaherty. Flaherty fired home but catcher Michaela Edenfield was unable to corral the low throw, allowing the run to score and the Blue Devils to take a 4-3 lead. Flaherty picked up an error on the play.

Sarah Goddard bunted out for the second out, with the out being recorded at home.

Ana Gold RBI single ties FSU-Duke ACC Championship at 3 in 6th

3:28 p.m.: Ana Gold's RBI single in the bottom of the sixth helped the Blue Devils even the game at 3. Gold ended up at second on the throw, and the Seminoles intentionally walked Kelly Torres.

It'll be bases-loaded, just one out for Duke.

3:16 p.m.: A 7-pitch inning for Cassidy Curd to send the game to the bottom of the 6th. The Blue Devils trail by a run but have the heart of the order due up.

3:11 p.m.: A 1-2-3 inning for Asthyn Danley helps the Seminoles advance to the sixth with a slim one-run lead.

Center fielder D'Auna Jennings robs Jaysoni Beachum of home run

3:05 p.m.: Duke center fielder provided a major assist to pitcher Cassidy Curd by robbing FSU freshman sensation Jaysoni Bechum of a home run to end the FSU fifth. The score remains 3-2.

2:58 p.m.: Ashtyn Danley gets Jada Baker to pop out to second to end the threat, but the Blue Devils plate two in the bottom of the fourth after FSU broke through for three runs in the top half of the inning.

FSU leads 3-2, heading into the fifth.

Kelly Torres, Ana Gold cuts the FSU lead to 3-2

2:54 p.m.: Ana Gold just got under a ball and flew out to left field. It plated the first run of the game for the Blue Devils, cutting the FSU lead to 3-1. Kelly Torres drove in Aleyah Terrell for the second run.

Duke chases FSU starter Allison Royalty

2:46 p.m.: Claire Davidson and Aminah Vega gave the Blue Devils their first two hits of the game, back-to-back singles to open the fourth, which chased starter Allison Royalty in favor of freshman Ashtyn Danley. It's Danley's third straight appearance in the tournament.

2:38 p.m.: Cassidy Curd strikes out a pair and records a groundball in relief of Jala Wright. But the Seminoles scored three runs, including a two-run shot by Kalei Harding to take a 3-0 lead heading into the B4. The Blue Devils are still seeking their first hit.

Michaela Edenfield double pushes FSU lead to 3-0 over Duke; Jala Wright relieved

2:30 p.m.: Michaela Edenfield doubled down the right field line to drive in Isa Torres, who reached on an infield singe. FSU leads 3-0 and has had four straight hitters reach base, which causes a pitching change for Duke. Cassidy Curd takes over for Jala Wright.

Kalei Harding gives FSU softball 2-0 lead over Jala Wright, Duke

2:25 p.m.: Kalei Harding hits a two-run line drive home run over the left field wall to give FSU a 2-0 advantage. Jaysoni Beachum led off the inning with a walk. It's Harding's second home run of the tournament. Seminoles lead 2-0, T4.

2:20 p.m.: Allison Royalty with another quick 1-2-3 inning. She induces two more groundball outs and a flyout to center. The Blue Devils are hitless through three innings, just one base runner.

2:13 p.m.: Jala Wright retires Kaley Mudge on a groundout to first on a 2-1 count. It was a 12-pitch inning for Wright.

2:11 p.m.: Amaya Ross got the first hit of the game on an infield single to third baseman Ana Gold. But Ross was caught stealing on the second pitch, just the third time she was caught stealing this season. Kennedy Harp struck out as the next hitter. Two outs, T3, still scoreless.

2:05 p.m.: Allison Royalty rolls through her portion of the second inning, throwing just 11 pitches for three groundball outs. Two of the groundballs were fielded by her. Still scoreless heading to the third.

2:00 p.m.: Second baseman and ACC Defensive Player of the Year Aminah Vega ranged to her right to field a ball and threw out speedy Jahni Kerr to give Jala Wright a 1-2-3 second inning. Third baseman Ana Gold is set to lead off the Blue Devil second.

1:51 p.m.: FSU pitcher Allison Royalty worked around a one-out walk on five pitches to Claire Davidson. Both teams earn a walk in the first inning but nothing else doing. Michaela Edenfield to leadoff the T2 for FSU.

1:41 p.m.: Jala Wright fell behind Kaley Mudge 3-0 to open the game, but then got Mudge to fly out on a 3-1 count. She retired freshman sensation Jaysoni Beachum before walking Kaeli Harding on a full count. Wright got out of the inning by retiring Isa Torres.

Duke coming to bat for the first time.

1:35 p.m.: Jala Wright fires two straight balls to Kaley Mudge to open the game.

1:16 p.m.: Florida State starting lineup:

  1. Kaley Mudge, LF

  2. Jaysoni Beachum, 3B

  3. Kalei Harding, DP

  4. Isa Torres, SS

  5. Michaela Edenfield, C

  6. Devyn Flaherty, 2B

  7. Jahni Kerr, RF

  8. Amaya Ross, 1B

  9. Kennedy Harp, CF

Allison Royalty (7-5, 3.85 ERA) is in the circle for the Seminoles.

1:15 p.m.: Duke starting lineup:

  1. D'Auna Jennings, CF

  2. Claire Davidson, RF

  3. Aminah Vega, 2B

  4. Amiah Burgess, LF

  5. Ana Gold, 3B

  6. Kelly Torres, C

  7. Jada Baker, SS

  8. Francesca Frelick, DP

  9. Gisele Tapia, 1B

Jala Wright (17-1, 1.06 ERA) is the starter for the Blue Devils.

What channel is Duke vs. Florida State on today? How to watch, stream live

Duke will face Florida State on ESPN2. Streaming options include the ESPN app and Fubo, which offers a free trial. Pam Ward and Jenny Dalton-Hill will announce the game.

Duke vs. Florida State start time, TV info, location

  • Start time: 2:30 p.m. ET

  • TV info: ESPN2

  • Location: Duke Softball Stadium, Durham, North Carolina

Duke vs. Florida State stats

Duke

  • Batting average: .329

  • On base percentage: .407

  • Home runs: 58

  • ERA: 1.51

  • Fielding percentage: .976

Florida State:

  • Batting average: .343

  • On base percentage: .426

  • Home runs: 80

  • ERA: 3.80

  • Fielding percentage: .968

Duke softball schedule 2024

Below are the past five games of Duke's 2024 softball season. For the full schedule, click here.

  • Friday, April 26: Duke 4, NC State 3

  • Saturday, April 27: Duke 6, NC State 1

  • Sunday, April 28: Duke 5, NC State 3

  • Thursday, May 9: Duke 2, Boston College 0, 10 innings (ACC Tournament Quarterfinal)

  • Friday, May 10: Duke 4, Clemson 3, 10 innings (ACC Tournament Semifinal)

  • Saturday, May 11: vs. Duke (ACC Tournament Championship)

Florida State softball schedule 2024

Below are the past five games of Florida State's 2024 softball season. For the full schedule, click here.

  • Friday, May 3: Syracuse 4, Florida State 3

  • Saturday, May 3: Florida State 3, Syracuse 2

  • Sunday, May 3: Syracuse 13, Florida State 5, 5 innings

  • Thursday, May 9: Florida State 2, Notre Dame 0 (ACC Tournament Quarterfinal)

  • Friday, May 10: Florida State 10, Georgia Tech 2, 5 innings (ACC Tournament Semifinal)

  • Saturday, May 11: vs. Duke (ACC Tournament Championship)

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This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: Duke softball vs Florida State softball: Final score, highlights from ACC Championship