Spring sport spotlight: No. 18 Duke softball bounces back to sweep Louisville

The Blue Zone is highlighting the progress of different spring sports throughout the season. This week, we look at Duke softball's victory against Louisville:

On Friday, No. 18 Duke softball continued its comeback with a 7-5 win against Louisville. The Blue Devils opened with an aggressive first inning, scoring four runs with the help of UCLA transfer Thessa Malau'ulu and infielder Jada Baker. 

Malau'ulu has proved to be an instrumental part of Duke’s offense this season. One of three new transfers to the team, the graduate student’s consistent performance has helped the Blue Devils rake in several victories, including a season-high two home runs during a game against Syracuse earlier in March. 

Likewise, Baker’s performance has been a key part of Duke’s success. Last season, the redshirt junior was one of six players last season to start in every game as Duke fought its way to the Women’s College World Series for the first time. The Longwood, Fla., native’s impressive record has continued this season, scoring her fourth and fifth home runs of the season when facing the Cardinals.

The Blue Devils’ offensive power didn’t stop in the first inning, though. Senior Ana Gold’s two runs in the fourth inning and Baker’s home run in the seventh cemented a lead against the Cardinals that was enough to counter the runs lost to Louisville after a momentary defensive weakening in the bottom of the fourth.

Although this defensive slip was fairly significant, allowing Louisville to score all five of its runs, the Duke defense was generally strong otherwise. Junior Cassidy Curd pitched only two hits during the first two innings, and graduate Dani Drogemuller gave up none during the last three innings of the game. 

Drogemuller has had a consistently strong showing during her second season with the Blue Devils. During the team’s tough 9-2 loss to Florida State in the last of the three-game conference series last week, the Frankfort, Ill., native managed to strike out four players. 

After suffering two other rough losses against the Seminoles, the Blue Devils recuperated with a shutout 11-0 victory against East Carolina on the road before sweeping through the Cardinals. Duke’s continued success is a positive sign that the team’s luck is changing during what has proved to be a tumultuous season. The squad’s 25–12 record throughout the season is already a stark contrast to last season’s impressive 52-9 record in what is likely a reflection of key players like Jala Wright and Claire Davidson graduating last spring.