LOUISVILLE, Ky. (theACC.com) – Duke pitcher Peyton St. George posted five and two-thirds scoreless innings as the No. 3-seeded Blue Devils narrowly defeated No. 6 Louisville, 4-3, in the quarterfinals of the 2021 Atlantic Coast Conference Softball Championship Thursday evening at Ulmer Stadium.
 
No. 21-ranked Duke got on the board first, plating three in the bottom of the first inning. Designated player Deja Davis and shortstop Jameson Kavel walked before second baseman Kristina Foreman homered down the left field line.
 
The Cardinals evened the score in the very next frame. Right fielder Charley Butler walked to leadoff, and first basemen Makayla Hurst and catcher Cassady Greenwood both singled to load the bases. Center fielder Celene Funke hit a single to center, driving in the first run. Left fielder Carmyn Greenwood added her own single to cut Duke’s lead to one. Second baseman Maddy Newman tied the score up at 3-3 with a sacrifice fly to left field, scoring Funke.
 
Both teams posted two scoreless innings until Duke broke the tie with Rachel Crabtree’s game-winning RBI double to center left that drove in Foreman, who was walked earlier in the inning.
 
Shelby Walters started the game for Duke, giving up three runs on four hits in 1 and a third innings of work. St. George earned the win, improving to 17-6 on the season, striking out three and only allowing two hits and walking one. Taylor Roby was tagged with the loss, giving up four runs on three hits while striking out three in six innings, falling to 12-14.
 
Duke will play No. 2 Florida State in tomorrow’s 3:30 p.m. semifinal.
 
ACC fans will be able to watch all nine games of the ACC Championship. The first three rounds will be broadcast on ACC Network, and ESPN will carry the championship game.