By Louis Fernandez, WRAL Sports

Duke softball used a two-run fifth inning to get its first win of the Columbia super regional against the Missouri Tigers on Friday. The Blue Devils now lead the best-of-three series 1-0 and are a win away from the first Women’s College World Series in program history.

The start was less than stellar with the Tigers picking up a 1-0 lead after an error got runners into scoring position, allowing Maddie Gallagher to bring Alex Honnold home on a single.

Duke didn’t stay down for long. In the top of the second, Francesca Frelick knocked the ball over the left field wall, a two-run homer to give the Blue Devils the lead. D’Auna Jennings added a triple, bringing Amiah Burgess home and giving Duke a 3-1 lead. Missouri responded with two runs of their own in the bottom of the second, making it a 3-3 tie after two.

It stayed a tie until the top of the fifth inning. ACC defensive player of the year Aminah Vega doubled to left center, bringing home Claire Davidson. Two batters later, a Gisele Tapia single gave Aleyah Terrell, in as a pinch runner for Vega, all the time she needed to get home. The Blue Devils led 5-3. An insurance run in the top of the seventh was just icing on the cake as the Blue Devils start the super regional up with a 6-3 victory.

Jala Wright started the game in the circle for the Blue Devils, but was replaced after 1.2 innings. Cassidy Curd came in and pitched an absolute gem, going 5.1 innings, striking out eight batters while not giving up a single hit.

Duke will play Missouri on Saturday at 1 p.m. A win would send the Blue Devils to Oklahoma City for the first time as a program.

Source: wralsportsfan.com