Duke softball star Ana Gold made some program history on Tuesday night.
During a road game against East Carolina, with two runners on in the top of the fourth, the junior launched a ball over the left field wall to give Duke a 7-0 lead.
The three-run shot was Gold’s 36th career home run, the most by any player to wear a Blue Devils uniform. She hit 19 home runs as a sophomore last season, the most in a single year by any Duke player.
Tuesday’s home run, Gold’s seventh of the season, also broke a mini-slump for the Duke star. After six home runs in the first 13 games of the season, she hadn’t sent one over the wall since February 25 against Villanova.
ANA GOLD HAS DONE IT! 🔥
THAT'S 36 CAREER HOME RUNS 🫢 pic.twitter.com/QBFbbUdhc8
— Duke Softball (@DukeSOFTBALL) April 9, 2024
The Blue Devils are a consensus top-three team in the country through 36 games this year. Duke came in No. 3 in this week’s USA TODAY Sports/NFCA Coaches Poll and reached a top spot for the first time in program history when Softball America moved the team to No. 1 on Monday.