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Duke softball runs into buzz saw in loss to Oklahoma at WCWS

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1 month ago

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Jenni Carlson
 |  Fayetteville Observer

OKLAHOMA CITY — Duke softball threw everything at Oklahoma.

Threw almost everyone, too.

The Blue Devils used four of their five pitchers against the three-time defending national champion Sooners on Thursday in their Women’s College World Series opener. Duke made the first three switches as OU came toward the top of its lineup, a strategy numerous teams have tried against the Sooners in an attempt to keep hitters guessing and not allow them to get comfortable.

But the Sooners were plenty comfy.

OU walloped Duke 9-1 in a six-inning run-rule and pushed the Blue Devils into a must-win game against Alabama at 7 p.m. Friday at Devon Park.

Duke (52-8) started lefty Cassidy Curd, who went two innings allowing one run and three hits. She was pulled in the third inning after allowing a single by Jayda Coleman, OU’s lead-off hitter who was seeing Curd for the second time.

Jala Wright took over and struck out the first two batters she faced.

Then, trouble hit.

OU clean-up hitter Kinzie Hansen blasted the first pitch that she saw over the left-field wall for a two-run home run. Two batters later, Sooner slugger Alynah Torres did the same, cranking a two-run homer to left. 

Wright gave up another two-run homer in the fourth inning and gave way to Lillie Walker, an Oklahoma native. Pitching in her home state, Walker went two innings and allowed three earned runs.

But the last two were given up by Dani Drogemull, who entered the game in the sixth inning and gave up a two-run single that pushed across two runs to give OU (55-6) the run-rule victory.

Duke’s first trip to WCWS

In their first appearance in the Women’s College World Series, the Blue Devils found themselves in a tough position.

Not only did they draw the defending champion Sooners, but they also stepped into a hostile environment. Devon Park is less than half an hour from the OU campus, and Sooner fans flock to the stadium when OU plays.

Thursday was no exception.

A section of Duke blue was surrounded by a stadium full of Sooner crimson.

With a capacity of more than 13,000, it is safe to say about 98% of those fans were cheering the Sooners.

More: Why Duke baseball will, and won’t win NCAA Tournament’s Norman Regional

More: Duke baseball completes dominant ACC Tournament with championship win vs Florida State

Frelick goes deep — again

Francesca Frelick is swinging a hot bat.

Smoking hot.

After hitting a pair of home runs in Duke’s super regional at Missouri, the senior catcher started the Women’s College World Series with another. She blasted a second-inning pitch to left field, a laser that just cleared the top of the wall.

Frelick only had four homers heading into super regionals.

It gave Duke an early 1-0 lead and hinted at control issues for OU ace Kelly Maxwell. 

She threw 67 pitches, and only 32 of them were for strikes. After issuing two walks and hitting a batter to load the bases, Maxwell gave way to Kierston Deal. Duke’s nine-hole hitter Gisele Tapia lined the ball to shallow center.

Only a diving catch by Sooner center fielder Jayda Coleman kept the Blue Devils from scoring at least two runs.

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