February 10, 2024
PUERTO VALLARTA, Mexico - Three Blue Devil pitchers combined on a one-hit shutout as #11 Duke beat Long Beach State 2-0 in the Puerto Vallarta Challenge at Nancy Almaraz Stadium.
Duke starter Dani Drogemuller allowed just one hit over the first three innings. Cassidy Curd threw 1 1/3 hitless innings before Jala Wright pitched the final 2 2/3 innings and struck out four to get her second win of the season.
Corissa Sweet had the only hit for Long Beach State, a bunt single to lead off the second.
Wright and Claire Davidson were named to the All-tournament session I team for Duke (3-1) which has won three straight.
Davidson’s RBI single got Duke on the board in the top of the first.
Duke added a run in the fifth when Ana Gold laid down a squeeze bunt scoring D’Auna Jennings, who singled, for a 2-0 lead.
The Beach loaded the bases on a hit batter and a pair of walks in the fourth, but reliever Curd recorded a strikeout to end the threat.
Wright came on in the fifth with a runner on first and induced a ground ball double play to get out of the inning.
Long Beach starter Eryka Gonzales went 4 2/3 innings and allowed just one earned run and four hits and Sophia Fernandez worked the final 2 1/3 and allowed just one hit.