LOUISVILLE, Ky. (theACC.com) – Duke is headed to its first Atlantic Coast Conference Softball Championship final in program history after coming back to defeat Florida State, 4-3, in Friday’s semifinal at Ulmer Stadium.
 
The No. 3-seeded and 21st-ranked Blue Devils scored in the top of the first inning to start the game. Third baseman Gisele Tapia singled and advanced to second on a fielding error. Shortstop Jameson Kavel drove Tapia home with a single of her own and scored on a Kelly Torres single to shortstop after stealing second.
 
No. 2 seed and seventh-ranked Florida State immediately answered, with a solo home run in the bottom of the first to center field by third baseman Sydney Sherrill.
 
The Seminoles took the lead in the bottom of the fifth inning, with Sherrill once again driving in a run, this time with an RBI single down the right field line. Left fielder Kaley Mudge, who got on base with a single to third base, touched home plate on a fielding error to give Florida State a 3-2 lead.
 
After a scoreless sixth inning, Duke regained the lead for good in the top of the seventh. Right fielder Caroline Jacobsen got on base with a single, and Tapia plated her for the tying run with a base hit to left center. Left fielder Kamryn Jackson flied out to left field to score Kyla Morris for the game-winning run.
 
Peyton St. George earned the win for Duke, after going in the distance with two earned runs on four hits and striking out four in seven innings and improving to 18-6 on the season. Kathryn Sandercock was credited with the loss, dropping to 22-2 after pitching two innings and allowing two runs on two hits. Caylan Arnold started for Florida State, striking out two while allowing two runs on five hits in five innings.
 
Duke advances to tomorrow’s noon championship game on ESPN against top-seeded Clemson.