Advertisement

Duke softball falls to Missouri: Updates, highlights from WCWS super regionals Game 2

craig meyer, usa today network
·10 min read

Duke softball’s first-ever ticket to the Women’s College World Series will have to wait at least a day to be punched.

The Blue Devils’ bats were held in check for much of the day, as Duke finished with just two hits in a 3-1 loss to Missouri Saturday at Mizzou Softball Stadium in Columbia, Missouri, a setback that evened the teams’ super regional series at one game apiece.

The decisive third game, which will determine whether the Blue Devils or Tigers will advance to the WCWS, is scheduled for Sunday in Columbia at a yet-to-be-announced time.

Missouri was buoyed by a three-run fourth inning that broke a scoreless deadlock after both teams failed to get a baserunner in the first three innings.

REQUIRED READING: Why Duke softball will, and won’t reach Women’s College World Series

Duke trimmed the deficit to two in the fifth inning with a solo home run from Francesca Frelick, her second homer in as many days. The Blue Devils had an opportunity to do even more damage in the sixth inning, with the bases loaded and just one out, but Ana Gold struck out swinging and Kelly Torres popped up to shortstop to end the threat. Earlier in her at-bat, Gold connected on a pitch that would have been a grand slam, but the ball veered foul of the left-field pole.

Jala Wright was strong for much of her second start of the series, allowing three hits and two earned runs in 3.1 innings while striking out two and walking no batters. All the hits and runs came in the fourth inning after she held Missouri hitless for the first three innings.

Cassidy Curd had her second-consecutive effective relief appearance, giving up just one hit in 3.2 innings after relieving Wright in the top of the fourth inning.

D’Auna Jennings got Duke’s only other hit of the day, a single to left field in the bottom of the fourth inning.

The loss snapped a 12-game win streak for the Blue Devils, who previously hadn’t lost since April 20 against Virginia.

Here are live updates and highlights from Duke’s loss:

Duke vs Missouri softball: Live updates

Final: Missouri 3, Duke 1

  • 3:11 p.m.: Duke goes down in order in the bottom of the seventh, with Pannell striking out the final two batters. Series all tied at one apiece, with the two teams set to face off again Sunday, with the winner moving on to the WCWS

  • 3:05 p.m.: Missouri goes down in order in the top of the seventh. Three outs left for Duke to either extend the game or win it.

  • 2:56 p.m.: A tough setback for Duke, which ends the inning scoreless after getting the bases loaded with just one out. Ana Gold clobbered a Pannell pitch to left field, but it went foul. She then struck out and Kelly Torres popped up to short to end the inning. Missouri heads to the plate in the top of the seventh with a one-run lead.

  • 2:52 p.m.: Bases now loaded for the Blue Devils after Aminah Vega gets an infield single that Abby Hay bobbles at first. Hay tried tagging Vega out, but the Duke infielder moved out of the way to avoid it.

  • 2:51 p.m.: Pannell walks Claire Davidson, giving Duke runners on first and second with one out. Prime opportunity for the Blue Devils to cut into the deficit. Or even things up.

  • 2:47 p.m.: After giving up a leadoff walk to Amiah Burgess, McCann is taken out of the game and replaced with Missouri closer Taylor Pannell.

  • 2:40 p.m.: Missouri goes down in order. Duke still down two with six outs left.

Fifth inning: Missouri 3, Duke 1

  • 2:31 p.m.: After allowing the homer to Frelick, Missouri makes a pitching change, with Marissa McCann coming in for starter Laurin Krings. Krings had a strong outing, giving up just two hits and one earned run in 4.2 innings while striking out three and walking no batters. McCann comes immediately in and records the final out of the inning to send it into the sixth.

  • 2:28 p.m.: Duke badly needed a run and Francesca Frelick provides it. With two outs in the fifth inning, Frelick hits a homer to left field that just clears the wall to get the Blue Devils within two runs. It's the second home run in as many days for Frelick, both of which went to left field.

  • 2:21 p.m.: Curd gives up a leadoff single, but turns a double play the next at-bat and then forces a pop-up to send Duke back to the plate in the bottom of the fifth.

Fourth inning: Missouri 3, Duke 0

  • 2:14 p.m.: Jennings doesn't get farther than second base, with Missouri getting a strikeout and two groundouts, in order. Duke still scoreless through four innings.

  • 2:07 p.m.: Duke with its first hit and baserunner of the game, with D'Auna Jennings hitting an opposite-field single to right to lead off the bottom of the fourth.

  • 2:02 p.m.: The first batter Curd faces, Julia Crenshaw, hits a sharp grounder back to the circle that goes off Curd's glove, but that Duke scoops up to get her out at first. Still, as that happens, Hay heads from third to home to increase her team's lead to 3-0.

  • 2:01 p.m.: Cassidy Curd now in the game for Duke, relieving Jala Wright, who finished with one earned run, three hits, two strikeouts and no walks in 3.1 innings.

  • 1:59 p.m.: A third straight hit for Missouri...and this one's a big one. Abby Hay hits a line drive to right field, bringing Honnold home. Duke's Claire Davidson, trying to throw Honnold out at home, is errant on her throw, which allows Gallagher to cross the plate, as well, while Hay heads to third base with one out.

  • 1:56 p.m.: Another single for Missouri, this one from Maddie Gallagher on a line drive to center. Honnold advances to second base. Marissa Young comes out to talk to Jala Wright, but Wright is only at 41 pitches, so unlikely she's getting pulled yet.

  • 1:53 p.m.: It takes until the fourth inning, but we have a baserunner. Missouri's Alex Honnold hits sharp grounder to short, which Jada Baker backhands, but is unable to get to first for the out in time. Honnold's infield single snaps a 0 for 27 run for Missouri going back to early in yesterday's game.

  • 1:52 p.m.: Still no score to report, but Missouri coach Larissa Anderson told the ESPN crew a cicada flew in her mouth earlier in the game. Evidently, they're everywhere today in Columbia.

  • 1:49 p.m.: Another inning with no baserunners. Both pitchers have retired all nine batters they've faced. On to the fourth inning we go.

  • 1:40 p.m.: Missouri yet again fails to get a base-runner, going down in order in the top of the third. The Tigers haven't gotten a hit off Duke since the second inning of yesterday's matchup, so eight consecutive innings without a hit. Both teams are getting solid contact on the ball, but between some great defense and just bad luck as far as where the ball travels, nobody has made it safely on base yet today.

  • 1:30 p.m.: Yet another great play in the outfield, this one at Duke's expense. Ana Gold with a hard hit to left field for what could have easily been a double, but Missouri's Claire Cahalan chases it down. Three up and three down for the Blue Devils. Neither team has had a baserunner in the first two innings, a stark contrast from yesterday's game.

  • 1:24 p.m.: Another fantastic play in the outfield for Duke, this time in the second inning. Missouri's Julia Crenshaw drove a Wright pitch deep to center field, but D'Auna Jennings rises up against the wall to snag the catch. Didn't look like it had enough to fly over the wall, but it would have been a double or triple. Instead, the Tigers' lineup is retired in order.

  • 1:20 p.m.: Quick note: they just switched the game over to ESPN. They didn't make note on the broadcast, instead cutting directly into the scheduled UFC programming.

  • 1:19 p.m.: Duke goes down in order, as well. Very similar to what Missouri did: two liners to the outfield that were caught and a groundout.

  • 1:11 p.m.: Three up, three down for Missouri. Tigers got contact on every at-bat, two of which were hit to the outfield, but Jala Wright gets through the first inning with just 14 pitches. Wright threw 30 in the first inning yesterday.

  • 1:08 p.m.: What an outstanding diving catch from Amiah Burgess in left field that would have potentially been an extra-base hit for Missouri on its first at-bat of the day. The freshman comes up big for her team early.

Pregame

1:05 p.m.: Due to the Baylor-Florida game running a bit long, the Duke and Missouri game is starting on ESPNews and ESPN+. Safe to assume it will switch back to ESPN once the Baylor-Florida game wraps up.

What channel is Duke v Missouri softball on today?

The Blue Devils’ game against Missouri will air on ESPN.

Streaming options for the game include the ESPN App and Fubo, the latter of which offers a free trial to potential subscribers.

REQUIRED READING: What channel is Duke vs. Missouri softball on today? Time, TV schedule for NCAA Tournament game

Duke vs Missouri softball start time

  • Date: Saturday, May 25

  • Time: 1 p.m. ET

First pitch for Duke’s game against Missouri is scheduled for 1 p.m. ET from Mizzou Softball Stadium in Columbia, Missouri.

Duke softball schedule 2024

Here are Duke softball’s past five results. To view the Blue Devils’ full 2024 schedule, click here

  • Saturday, May 11: Duke 6, Florida State 3

  • Friday, May 17: Duke 6, Morgan State 1

  • Saturday, May 18: Duke 8, South Carolina 0 (6 innings)

  • Sunday, May 19: Duke 10, South Carolina 1

  • Friday, May 24: Duke 6, Missouri 3

REQUIRED READING: Who is Jala Wright? Duke softball pitcher one of nation's best heading into Super Regionals

Missouri softball schedule 2024

Here are Missouri softball’s past five results. To view the Tigers’ full 2024 schedule, click here

  • Saturday, May 18: Missouri 5, Indiana 1

  • Saturday, May 18: Missouri 4, Washington 1

  • Sunday, May 19: Missouri 5, Omaha 1

  • Sunday, May 19: Missouri 1, Omaha 0 (9 innings)

  • Friday, May 24: Duke 6, Missouri 3

We occasionally recommend interesting products and services. If you make a purchase by clicking one of the links, we may earn an affiliate fee. USA TODAY Network newsrooms operate independently, and this doesn’t influence our coverage.

This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: Updates, highlights from Duke softball's loss to Missouri in Super Regional Game 2