SOUTH BEND, Ind. (theACC.com) – Duke defeated Georgia Tech, 7-1, in Thursday’s third quarterfinal of the 2023 Atlantic Coast Conference Softball Championship. The No. 2 seed Blue Devils advance to Friday’s second semifinal against the winner of No. 2 Clemson and No. 6 North Carolina at 1:30 p.m.

Aminah Vega registered a three-hit day, featuring a double and a home run to lead the Blue Devils.  

Duke took an early 3-0 lead in the first inning with a three-run homer from Vega. Both teams scored a run in the third, with an RBI-single apiece from Georgia Tech’s Emma Kauf and Duke’s Vega.  

Kauf hit her 50th career double in the top of the fifth to help the Yellow Jackets load the bases, but Duke’s Cassidy Curd came on in relief to strand all three runners.

Heading into the fifth with the score 4-1, the Blue Devils’ Kelly Torres tripled to right field to drive in a run before Kristiana Watson homered to left center to put Duke up 7-1 for good.

Due to forecasted storms in the South Bend area, tomorrow's semifinal between Duke and Clemson has been moved up to 1:30 p.m. 

2023 ACC Softball Championship Schedule
Wednesday, May 10
Game 1: #9 Syracuse 8, #8 Virginia 2
Game 2: #10 Georgia Tech 8, #7 Notre Dame 1

Thursday, May 11
Game 3: #1 Florida State 4, #9 Syracuse 1
Game 4: #4 Louisville 10, #5 Virginia Tech 8
Game 5: #2 Duke 7, #10 Georgia Tech 1
Game 6: #3 Clemson vs. #6 North Carolina, 7:30 p.m., ACCN

Friday, May 12
Game 7: #1 Florida State vs. #5 Virginia Tech, 11 a.m., ACCN
Game 8: #2 Duke vs. Winner Game 6, 1:30 p.m., ACCN

Saturday, May 13
Game 9: Winner Game 7 vs. Winner Game 8, 1 p.m., ESPN2