Duke softball stuns Tennessee in historic matchup; ACC’s depth on full display
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- Duke defeated Tennessee 6-3 in front of more than 1,000 fans in Durham.
- North Carolina celebrated Smith Lyon’s 100th win in a 6-5 win over Duke.
- ACC softball shows depth with multiple teams ranked and eight in RPI Top 40.
College softball’s popularity is booming. The proof is in the viewership, attendance and the line to get into Duke’s Smith Family Stadium.
Duke defeated Tennessee on Wednesday night, 6-3, picking up one of its biggest wins in program history in front of more than 1,000 fans — one of the largest crowds this season. (They almost ran out of beer, too.)
The Lady Vols (37-7, 12-6 SEC) entered the matchup ranked No. 7 in this week’s NFCA Poll and No. 9 in the ESPN/USA Softball poll. They were the highest-ranked nonconference opponent to play in Durham during the regular season.
Michigan, Duke head coach Marissa Young’s alma mater, previously held the record. It was ranked No. 19 on Feb. 26, 2022, when the Blue Devils pulled off a 6-1 win. Stanford was No. 7 when it played at Duke in the 2023 NCAA Super Regionals.
Young said her squad “doesn’t play the jersey” and does its best to play to its standard regardless of the opponent in the other dugout. Still, she understands the significance of hosting an SEC team, even if it’s one state over.
“I thought they did a good job of not making tonight bigger than what it was, but we also talked a lot about taking the moment,” Young said. “Look around, enjoy the fact that you’ve built something so incredible that so many people came out tonight to watch. They deserve to be celebrated.”
The Blue Devils (32-12, 15-3 ACC) jumped out to an early lead after scoring three runs in the first inning and expanding their advantage to five. They did not give up a run until the fifth frame, when Tennessee scored three runs on a pair of long balls to put pressure on the home team.
Tennessee’s All-American pitcher, Karlyn Pickens, was pulled in the first inning after throwing five pitches. She returned in the sixth inning and allowed Duke to score its sixth run of the night.
Well-timed outs, including clutch plays from Layla Lamar in right field, pushed Duke to a signature win over a storied program. In fact, it was Tennessee’s first loss to a non-SEC team this season.
“It’s just great to be able to win a big game like this in front of our home crowd, but this is what they do,” said Young. “They get up for the big moments, and they showed that they were ready from the first pitch of the game. And when their backs are against the wall, they play their best softball.”
Duke’s quick success under its head coach has been well-documented. The team has won two ACC championships, made five straight NCAA Tournament appearances and earned a spot in the 2024 Women’s College World Series. This year, it is on pace to win at least 40 games for the fifth straight season.
“Every year, we’re fighting for that notoriety and recognition, and this helps with that,” Young said. “It also gives us that postseason feel, which we’re looking forward to as well.”
Carolina on the rise
North Carolina head coach Megan Smith Lyon, doused in ice water, stood in a huddle with her team Saturday after beating Duke, 6-5. The Tar Heels celebrated Smith Lyon’s 100th win as the program’s head coach — a feat she achieved in three seasons — and its first victory over the Blue Devils since 2019. It came in front of a program-record 1,109 fans.
“My job is to come in here and make Carolina softball better each year that I’m here,” said Smith Lyon after the series finale against Duke. “That’s not an easy task to do nowadays. We’ve worked really hard, and we have a lot of work we have left to do.”
Smith Lyon was hired in 2023 after Donna J. Pappa’s retirement, returning to her alma mater where she played from 1996-99. The team has consistently improved under her leadership.
Carolina, after a midweek victory over East Carolina, sits at 31-11 and has surpassed the 30-game win total from Smith Lyon’s first season in 2024. They also picked up wins over Duke and Virginia, earning victories over ranked opponents for the first time in four seasons.
The Tar Heels received votes in this week’s NFCA Top 25 and rank No. 39 in the NCAA RPI.
A year ago, the Tar Heels won 40 games. That could be difficult with a backloaded schedule — it features trips to Florida State and Virginia Tech — but it’s poised to make its second straight NCAA Tournament. UNC’s postseason bid last season was its first since 2019.
“It is definitely a challenge, but at the end of the day, that’s what makes it fun,” junior catcher Rayna Blackwell said. “Softball wouldn’t be fun if it wasn’t a challenge. It definitely is a pleasure and a privilege to be able to have games like that.”
Smith Lyon said softball is “totally different” today than it was when she was a player, especially in North Carolina, between the fan support and overall success. She called Duke’s meteoric rise “phenomenal” and complimented Lindsay Leftwich’s effort to build N.C. State, which is 25-17, into a consistent competitor.
But the growth hasn’t been limited to the Power 4 level. Smith Lyon called the state of North Carolina the deepest, when considering Charlotte, Elon, East Carolina, UNC-Greensboro and UNC-Wilmington’s successes on the mid-major level. Each team has multiple 30-win seasons in the last five years. Of that group, Elon and N.C. State are the only two programs without an NCAA Tournament berth during that time.
“They’re all doing really well and being very successful, which helps us,” she said. “We can play mid-weeks, right down the road, and we’re going to get tested. We’re going to play quality opponents. It’s amazing to see how much the sport has grown in this state.”
Acknowledging the ACC
For years, Florida State ran the ACC. It has 19 of the league’s 33 conference championships, including 12 since 2000 and a stretch of six straight from 2014 to 2019.
Since 2021, three different programs — Duke, FSU and Clemson — have won the title. The strength and parity of the ACC remains on full display this season.
Duke, Florida State and Virginia Tech are ranked in four national softball polls. Virginia and Stanford are ranked in the ESPN/USA Softball and NFCA polls, while Clemson, Louisville and North Carolina have received votes in one or more.
Additionally, eight of the ACC’s 15 softball programs are ranked in the NCAA RPI Top 40, a ranking system used when determining postseason seeding.
“The ACC is tough, and I think that’s amazing,” Smith Lyon said. “Adding Stanford, adding Cal only makes it tougher, which we were really excited about. At the end of the day, you want to play great teams, and we have the opportunity to do that.”
