Duke softball started its postseason on Friday, but the Blue Devils seem to be having fun.
In the third inning of Saturday’s regional game against South Carolina, sophomore star D’Auna Jennings did something she’s never done before. She launched one over the wall.
Jennings’ solo home run carried over the fence in right-center, and the outfielder threw both hands into the air in celebration. She rounded the bases and wrapped teammate Claire Davidson in a hug when she reached home plate. She raced over to her teammates with her arms out as well, the entire roster celebrating the moment alongside her.
Jennings, known for her speed and reliability at the plate, set a program record with a batting average of .462 as a freshman in 2023, and her 147 hits over the last two seasons are 16 more than any other player on the team. However, for a brief lash at Duke Softball Stadium on Saturday, she was a slugger.
Priceless reaction to her FIRST CAREER HOME RUN 🥹@deeyawnuh | @DukeSOFTBALL pic.twitter.com/QrHgT2njsu
— ACC Network (@accnetwork) May 18, 2024
The solo shot gave Duke a 1-0 lead after three innings in the champion’s side of the Durham Regional bracket.