Duke Softball kicks off the 2025 season with two dominant wins on day one of the NFCA Leadoff Classic in Clearwater, Fla. The Blue Devils defeated Penn State 7-0 in the opener and then secured an 8-0 run-rule victory over No. 24 Mississippi State. Junior Aminah Vega led the offense with 4-for-6 hitting and five RBI, while freshman Brooklinn Thomas and redshirt sophomore Kairi Rodriguez also had strong performances.
Junior Cassidy Curd and graduate student Dani Drogemuller shined in the circle, both throwing complete games and allowing just seven hits combined. Curd recorded eight strikeouts against Penn State, bringing her career total to 323.
In the first game against Penn State, the Blue Devils broke a scoreless tie in the seventh inning with a six-run rally, highlighted by triples from Ana Gold and Rodriguez. Curd sealed the shutout win by retiring three of the final four batters. In the second game against Mississippi State, Rodriguez hit a three-run homer in the first inning to set the tone for Duke’s offensive power.
Looking ahead, Duke is set to face No. 15 Missouri and No. 21 Northwestern on Saturday in more top 25 matchups. The game against Missouri will be broadcast on MLB Network, while the showdown with Northwestern can be streamed on GameChanger. Fans can follow Duke Softball on social media for updates and highlights. #GoDuke
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