Duke softball clinches series against North Carolina with blowout mercy-rule win

Cassidy Curd struck out a career-high 12 batters in five innings on Saturday as the Blue Devils beat UNC by the run rule to clich the rivalry series.

No. 2 Duke softball earned the series-clinching win against North Carolina in emphatic fashion on Saturday, winning by mercy rule after a six-run first inning.

The Blue Devils chased UNC starter Bailey McCachren from the mound after just a single out. Duke drew two walks and knocked a single through to load the bases before McCachren hit Kelly Torres with a pitch to plate the first run of the game.

In the very next at-bat, Blue Devils senior Francesca Frelick doubled to right to bring home two more. Just like that, McCachren’s day was over. However, Tar Heels reliever Talia Hannappel somehow got off to an even worse start. With two runners still aboard, Duke’s Sara Goddard pulled a deep line drive over the wall for a three-run homer.

The ball pinged harmlessly off a flagpole over the left-field barrier, a vibrating announcing of Duke’s dominant start.

If North Carolina didn’t have its best stuff in the circle on Saturday, Duke pitcher Cassidy Curd certainly did. The sophomore struck out two batters in the first, second, and third innings each before she fanned each of the last six batters she faced, setting a new career-high with 12 strikeouts.

Curd only needed five innings of work for the new personal best, too, as the Blue Devils added a run in the second and fourth innings to make it an 8-0 ball game, invoking the run rule to clinch the series early.

The left-handed pitcher blew a 68-mile-per-hour pitch by UNC’s Carsyn Snead for the game’s last out. She took off her pitcher’s mask as the sold-out Duke crowd greeted her effort with a standing ovation.

Curd allowed just two hits for the day, and no North Carolina baserunners reached third base.

The Blue Devils, now 32-3 on the season and riding a seven-game win streak, get a chance at the sweep on Sunday at 7:00 p.m. The game will be broadcast on ACC Network.