Duke softball eliminated from Women’s College World Series in close Alabama loss

The Blue Devils held Alabama to two runs in a Women’s College World Series elimination game, but Duke could only muster one run in the loss.

After the best season in program history, the 2024 Duke softball season came to an end in Oklahoma City on Friday night.

After an opening loss to Oklahoma, the three-time defending national champions, the Blue Devils needed to beat Alabama in an elimination game in order to advance in the double-elimination bracket.

Duke couldn’t have turned to a more reliable pitcher in the circle. Cassidy Curd got the start, her fifth appearance in Duke’s last five games. After a stellar weekend at the Columbia Super Regional to help the Blue Devils advance, she held the Sooners scoreless for the first two innings of Thursday’s opening game before a hit chased her from the circle to start the third.

Curd kept her exceptional form going on Friday. The Crimson Tide got on her early for a run, a double from catcher Marlie Giles to bring a teammate around, but the Blue Devils sophomore held Alabama in each of the next four innings to give her offense every chance.

Ana Gold, the program’s all-time home run leader, took advantage of one of those chances in the second inning with a game-tying solo shot. Her piercing line drive rattled off the scaffolding over center field, loudly announcing Duke’s rally.

Or so the offense thought.

The Duke couldn’t get off the ground for the rest of the game. The Blue Devils picked up just two baserunners for the rest of the game, one walk in the third inning and a single in the fourth. Otherwise, Alabama’s pitching duo of Jocelyn Briski and Kayla Beaver kept the Blue Devils guessing.

Even an exciting home-run robbery from freshman outfielder Amiah Burgess couldn’t give Duke a jumpstart.

Curd kept dealing and dealing, willing Duke to remain tied, but she could only play with fire for so long. Giles struck again in the top of the sixth, a solo home run of her own to push the Crimson Tide ahead.

Duke entered the bottom of the seventh down one run after managing just five hits in the first six frames. Beaver never gave the Blue Devils a chance, never throwing a single ball.

Gold made great contact on a line drive up the first-base line, but a leaping catch from Lauren Esman halted the rally before it could start with the first out. A groundout and a strikeout later, and the season ended.

Duke finished the season with a 52-9 record, the most wins in a single season in school history.