Hosting a regional for first time, Duke softball takes care of business against UMBC
With highs in the 90s, fans in blue flocked to Duke Softball Stadium on Friday to witness history.
For the first time in the program’s five-year history, Duke softball, the 12th seed in the NCAA tournament, hosted a regional. The Blue Devils were supposed to play host a year ago, but campus COVID protocols forced them to travel to Georgia.
With a 4-0 win over UMBC on Friday at Duke Softball Stadium, Duke advances to face Liberty on Saturday afternoon on its home field.
“Obviously a great day, being able to host regionals for the first time in program history,” Blue Devils coach Marrissa Young said. “It was a tough ball game and a battle until the end. We scratched and clawed and found a way to get it done.”
Peyton St. George was the winning pitcher, striking out eight batters in seven innings of work.
Kristina Foreman went 2-3 at the plate, including a solo home run in the bottom of the second to get Duke started.
If there was pressure or any nerves about the historic day, the Blue Devils didn’t show it early.
“I think you have to take into account that it’s a first and it’s something we’ve never done before,” St. George said. “Take those into account and just use it to get you ready. I think at the end of the day you can’t make the moment too big for yourself or you’re not going to play your best during the game.”
Young took some time before the game to look around the stadium, taking in the fans dressed in blue, witnessing history.
“I was happy that the players who started this program were able to experience that for the first time,” Young said. “I look forward to the program continuing to grow to new heights.”
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Duke will take on Liberty on Saturday at 1 p.m. in Durham. The Flames defeated Georgia in Friday’s first game of the day at Duke Softball Stadium.
Hosting and winning a regional game checks a box for Young and her team, but it’s too early to start any celebrations.
Young said the pitch selection wasn’t great against the Retrievers and there were moments when the team wanted to “do too much.”
Duke didn’t have any errors in the field and pitched a shutout for the first time since April 24. But this is just the first win. Young hopes there are plenty more to come.
“This is definitely what we wanted,” Young said. “But we have our eyes set on winning a regional and getting to a Super (Regional) and hopefully the College World Series. We’ll continue to take it one game at a time, not look too far ahead and continue to play our best.”
This story was originally published May 20, 2022 at 7:08 PM.
