Duke’s Francesca Frelick hits the team’s first Women’s College World Series home run

In the Blue Devils’ first Women’s College World Series game in program history on Thursday, Francesca Frelick got Duke off to a dream start.

The Duke softball team took the field in the Women’s College World Series for the first time ever on Thursday, and it took less than two innings for the Blue Devils to get on the board.

After a scoreless first inning, senior Francesca Frelick hammered a low line drive toward left field that carried and stretched over the wall for a solo home run, giving Duke a 1-0 lead over Oklahoma.

The Sooners have won the last three national championships and defeated Duke 3-0 in the Blue Devils’ first game of the season, so striking first likely felt extra sweet for head coach Marissa Young’s team.

As the ball rattled off a short camera tower and over the wall, Frelick cheered loudly as she rounded the bases. She wrapped teammates Amiah Burgess and Ana Gold in an embrace before jumping forward into a mob of Blue Devils all ready to celebrate her achievement.