DURHAM, N.C. (theACC.com) - No. 1 seed Duke won in dramatic fashion in the first semifinal game of the 2024 Atlantic Coast Conference Softball Championship as it downed No. 5 seed Clemson, 4-3, in 10 innings at the Duke Softball Stadium to make its second-straight appearance in the championship game.
The Blue Devils will face the winner of the No. 3 seed Florida State and No. 6 seed Georgia Tech matchup after playing back-to-back 10 inning games, marking the first time since 2005 there have been multiple extra inning games in a single ACC Softball Championship. Duke is also the first team in ACC Softball Championship history to play two consecutive extra inning games.
Clemson got on the board in the first inning after a two-run homer to center field from Maddie Moore and held on to a 2-0 lead through the top of the fourth inning.
Leading off for Duke in the fourth, Amiah Burgess reached on a throwing error and scored off Jada Baker's double to left field. Baker then scored off Francesa Frelick's single to left, tying the game at 2-2 headed into the fifth inning.
Duke's Cassidy Curd and Clemson's Millie Thompson kept the game scoreless through the next two innings before the Tigers' Lindsey Garcia sent a solo shot to left center and scored the go-ahead run in the top of the seventh inning.
D'Auna Jennings led off the seventh for Duke with a single through the right side. With two runners on base, Kelly Torres hit a sacrifice fly as Jennings crossed the plate, tying the game up at 3-3 and send the semifinal game into extra innings.
In the bottom of the ninth, Aminah Vega launched what looked like the game-winning run for the Blue Devils, but Clemson centerfielder McKenzie Clark robbed the homer at the wall and sent the game into the tenth inning.
Clemson put a runner on base, but Duke's Lillie Walker shut the Tigers' offense down to gave the Blue Devils the chance they needed. Freshman Amiah Burgess walked to lead off the inning and advanced to second off a single from Ana Gold. With two outs, Frelick tallied her second hit of the day, a walk-off RBI single as Burgess rounded the bases and was called safe after an official review.
Curd got the start for the Blue Devils, pitching 7.1 innings with four strikeouts before Walker (12-2) came on in relief to secure the win for the Blue Devils, striking out three in the final 2.2 innings.
The semifinals continue with Florida State against Georgia Tech at 3:30 p.m. on ACC Network.
2024 ACC Softball Championship Schedule
Wednesday, May 8
Game 1: #9 Boston College 1, #8 Syracuse 0 | Box Score
Game 2: #10 Notre Dame 7, #7 North Carolina 4 | Box Score
Thursday, May 9
Game 3: #1 Duke 2, #9 Boston College 0 (10 inn.) | Box Score
Game 4: #5 Clemson 8, #4 Virginia 1 | Box Score
Game 5: #2 Florida State 2, #10 Notre Dame 0 | Box Score
Game 6: #3 Virginia Tech vs. #6 Georgia Tech | Box Score
Friday, May 10
Game 7: #1 Duke 4, #5 Clemson 3 (10 inn.) | Box Score
Game 8: #2 Florida State vs. #6 Georgia Tech | 3:30 p.m. | ACC Network | Live Results
Saturday, May 11
Game 9: #1 Duke vs. Winner Game 8 | 2:30 p.m. | ESPN2