Duke Softball Ready for Home Opener Against East Carolina
DURHAM, N.C. - The Duke Blue Devils are set to kick off their home schedule in style, hosting East Carolina at Smith Family Stadium. Fans can catch the first pitch at 5 p.m. as the Blue Devils look to build on their early-season performances.
After a challenging stretch at the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic in California, Duke's record stands at 9-7. The Blue Devils showed resilience, bouncing back from an 11-5 loss to No.
11 Texas A&M with a solid 9-6 win over Hawaii. Facing top-tier competition, they battled hard but fell to No.
5 Oklahoma and No. 9 UCLA.
One of the highlights of the weekend was the thrilling matchup against No. 18 Oregon, where senior D'Auna Jennings put on a show with a historic five-hit game, reaching the 250-career hit milestone. Her teammates Aminah Vega and Jessica Oakland also shone, with Vega driving in four runs.
How to Watch
For those who can't make it to the stadium, the game will be streamed live on ACC Network Extra, with Dean Linke providing the commentary. Live stats will also be available.
Series Snapshot
Duke has dominated the series against East Carolina, holding a 7-1 all-time lead. The Blue Devils have been particularly strong at home, boasting a 3-0 record in Durham. In their last encounter in 2025, Duke secured an emphatic 11-0 victory, with Aminah Vega going 4-for-4 and contributing significantly to the win.
Scouting the Pirates
East Carolina, also 9-7, is hitting the road after an extended homestand. The Pirates have been competitive, with senior Anna Sawyer leading the charge with a .426 batting average. In the pitching department, redshirt sophomore Julia Apostolakos has been a standout, recording 30 strikeouts over 47 innings.
Looking Ahead
After facing East Carolina, Duke will host the Duke Invitational, welcoming Boston University, Northwestern, and Ohio State. The action kicks off against Northwestern on Thursday at 4 p.m.
This home opener promises excitement, as the Blue Devils aim to continue their winning ways and build momentum for the season ahead.