Duke softball beats Missouri 4-3 to advance to WCWS: Score, updates, highlights from super regionals final

Duke softball's game against Missouri on Sunday was an absolute pitcher's duel until the ninth inning.

The No. 10 Blue Devils and No. 7 Tigers were locked at a scoreless tie until the top of the ninth, when leadoff hitter D'Auna Jennings blasted a solo home run over the right field fence to give Duke a 1-0 lead.

REQUIRED READING: Survivors: How Missouri softball, with end in sight again, set up super regional rubber match

The home run propelled Duke to a four-run lead, which ultimately was enough the fend off Missouri 4-3 on Sunday night to earn a trip to its first ever Women's College World Series.

Ticket punched.

The Tigers weren't completely finished after allowing four runs, as Abby Hay smacked a three-run home run in the bottom of the ninth before Duke was able to shut the door.

Duke pitcher Cassidy Curd was electric in the circle, pitching eight innings and allowing two runs on six hits with seven strikeouts on the night. Meanwhile, Tigers ace Laurin Krings was also extremely effective, totaling eight innings and allowing only one run on four hits with three strikeouts. Krings was replaced after allowing the solo home run in the ninth.

Here's the live updates and highlights from the Blue Devil's historic win:

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Duke vs Missouri softball: Live score, updates, highlights

Final: Duke 4, Missouri 3

8:51 p.m.: That's it. Duke wins it on the lineout to center. Blue Devils headed to their first ever WCWS.

8:50 p.m.: Missouri gets a baserunner on a single.

8:47 p.m.: Interesting move: Duke bringing Curd back in to try and get the final out.

8:46 p.m.: Big out for Duke, as Walker gets a ground ball that results in an out. Blue Devils one out away.

8:44 p.m.: Tigers said this game isn't done. Hay hits a three-run home run to cut Duke's lead to 4-3 with an out in the bottom of the ninth. Tying run now coming up to the plate.

8:41 p.m.: Walker gets a ground ball, which results in an out at first base. However, Missouri moves runners to second and third on the out. Those two runners don't matter yet, however, with the four-run cushion.

8:38 p.m.: Missouri says not so fast. Tigers get runners on first and second on back-to-back singles to start the inning. Curd's night is done, as she's relieved by Lillie Walker.

8:35 p.m.: Duke going back to Curd to close this thing out.

8:34 p.m.: Duke finally is shut down and needs just three outs to make history. Missouri bats coming up for the bottom of the ninth.

8:33 p.m.: As good as it gets in this frame for Duke, who plates another on the bloop to right field by Torres to give a 4-0 lead. That's three consecutive hits for Missouri.

8:30 p.m.: Gold doubles to right to score Burress, giving Duke a 3-0 lead. It'll be interesting hear Missouri' decision to pull Krings for Pannell, who was just replaced by Marissa McCann.

8:27 p.m.: What an inning from Duke. Frelick gets hit by a pitch, then Burress triples to right field to give the Blue Devils a 2-0 lead. Duke inches away from first ever WCWS appearance.

8:22 p.m.: After a review, the umpires confirm Jennings did touch home plate on her home run trot. Would've been a massive turn of events. Missouri pulls Krings for closer Taylor Pannell, also.

8:18 p.m.: Wow. Duke breaks through with a solo home run by Jennings. What a hit in a ginormous moment.

Eighth inning: Duke 0, Missouri 0

8:14 p.m.: Check me if you've heard this before: Both pitchers go three-up, three-down again. Curd gets through the eighth, now we're headed to the ninth.

8:08 p.m.: Tapia flies out to center to end the frame. Just no words for these pitching performances.

8:02 p.m.: Duke aiming for its first baserunner with small ball, as Baker tries for the bunt, but it's popped up into the catcher's glove for out two.

7:58 p.m.: Krings headed back to for Missouri to kick off the eighth inning, the first of extras.

Seventh inning: Duke 0, Missouri 0

7:56 p.m.: Curd gets the strikeout to get out of the inning, and she is absolutely fired up. We're headed to extra innings scoreless.

7:54 p.m.: Missouri with its first baserunner in over four innings after the single by Crenshaw. Two outs in the seventh.

7:52 p.m.: Just domination from both inside the circle. Curd has retired 14 in a row after the strikeout.

7:48 p.m.: Curd sets down the first batter she faces of the seventh, raising her retirement streak to 13 straight batters. Just electricity from both pitchers here with the season on the line.

7:47 p.m.: Not much other to say than if you enjoy pitching, you'll enjoy this game. Krings is just untouchable right now. She has now retired 13 batters in a row.

Sixth inning: Duke 0, Missouri 0

7:42 p.m.: Curd retired the Tigers in order, just a pitching masterclass so far.

7:33 p.m.: Krings puts up another zero. She has now retired 10 consecutive Duke batters. Curd has to match again in the bottom of the sixth.

7:33 p.m.: Missouri football coach Eli Drinkwitz was just shown in the stands on the ESPN broadcast supporting the softball team.

7:30 p.m.: Curd's pitching line so far: Five innings, two hits, four strikeouts, no walks.

Fifth inning: Duke 0, Missouri 0

7:27 p.m.: Not much to update other than pure dominance from both pitchers. Curd sets down Missouri in order. Couple of quick innings in a row.

7:21 p.m.: The outs are coming fast. Duke goes three up, three down again to turn over the inning. Missouri bats coming up for bottom of the fifth.

Fourth inning: Duke 0, Missouri 0

7:14 p.m.: Six up, six down for both teams in the fourth inning. To the fifth we go!

7:07 p.m.: Duke is retired in order, with Curd headed back out for the bottom frame.

7:05 p.m.: Certainly feels like a pitcher's duel thus far as Krings strikes out Frelick and Burgess to kick off the fourth inning.

Third inning: Duke 0, Missouri 0

6:57 p.m.: Curd with no trouble getting out of the jam, as she gets the final out of the third inning on a flyout.

6:56 p.m.: Curd battles back to get two outs, as Cahalan sacrifices Lenger to second base before Curd forces Laird to fly out.

6:52 p.m.: Lenger ropes a leadoff single to start the bottom half of the inning for the Tigers.

6:49 p.m.: Vega flies out to left field to end the inning for Duke. Both offenses with nothing going so far.

6:48 p.m.: Krings gets two quick outs to start the third. She seems to have settled in nicely.

Second inning: Duke 0, Missouri 0

6:42 p.m.: Curd gets Walker to end the inning. We may have a pitching duel on our hands.

6:40 p.m.: Curd gets the first two Missouri batters out in short order. She has been extremely difficult so far, the Tiger batters are struggling to make any solid contact.

6:35 p.m.: Duke goes down 1-2-3 after putting Krings in a tough situation in the first. Missouri's order up next.

6:34 p.m.: Krings fields a bunt from Torres and guns her out at first, bringing Baker up with two outs.

6:31 p.m.: Gold lines out to third to start the inning, and Krings now goes up against Torres with one out.

First inning: Duke 0, Missouri 0

6:22 p.m.: Curd off to a strong start, with back-to-back strikeouts to start the bottom half of the first inning. Her stuff is electric so far.

6:17 p.m.: Duke can't capitalize on its early scoring opportunity as Frelick flies out and Burgess strikes out to end the inning. Blue Devils taking the field.

6:12 p.m.: Back-to-back singles by Davidson and Vega put runners on first and third for Duke after Jennings' leadoff strikeout.

5:47 p.m.: Here's Duke's starting lineup with Cassidy Curd getting the nod in the circle:

• 1. CF D'Auna Jennings

• 2. RF Claire Davidson

• 3. 2B Aminah Vega

• 4. DP Frankie Frelick

• 5. LF Amiah Burgess

• 6. 3B Ana Gold

• 7. C Kelly Torres

• 8. SS Jada Baker

• 9. 1B Gisele Tapia

What channel is Duke vs Missouri softball on today?

• TV channel: ESPNU

• Streaming: ESPN app, Fubo

Duke softball's game against Missouri on Sunday will air live on ESPNU, with streaming options available on the ESPN app or Fubo, which offers a free trial to potential subscribers.

Duke softball vs Missouri start time

• Date: Sunday, May 26

• Time: 6 p.m. ET

Duke softball's game against Missouri starts at 6 p.m. ET on Sunday, May 26, at Mizzou Softball Stadium in Columbia, Missouri.

REQUIRED READING: Survivors: How Missouri softball, with end in sight again, set up super regional rubber match

Duke softball schedule 2024

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

• 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

• Saturday, May 25: Missouri 3, Duke 1

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 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

• Saturday, May 25: Missouri 3, Duke 1

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This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: Duke softball beats Missouri 4-3: Live score, updates, highlights