Courtesy UVA Media Relations
A pair of home runs were the difference on Thursday night as No. 12 Virginia dropped the series opener at No. 23 Duke by a score of 5-2 at the Smith Family Softball Stadium in Durham.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Duke got on the board first with a two-run home run from Kairi Rodriguez in the second inning.
Virginia (31-4, 9-3 ACC) loaded the bases with two outs in the third inning, but Duke was able to get out of the jam by coaxing a fly ball to left to end the frame.
The Blue Devils (26-11, 11-2) doubled the lead in the fifth inning with a bases-loaded double off the wall in left center from KK Mathis to take the lead to 4-0.
If you want even more award-winning coverage on the UVA athletics department, including its nationally-ranked football and basketball programs, be sure to subscribe to “Cavalier Exclusive” to follow all of Virginia Sports Hall Of Famer Jerry “Hootie” Ratcliffe’s analysis and content. It’s the best in the business for Wahoo Fans!
The Cavaliers cut the lead in half in the sixth with a two-run shot to left from Reagan Hickey.
Reagan Hickey missed none of that one!
Hoos cut the lead in half in the sixth!
📺 ACCNX#GoHoos | #4for40 | #PeopleMakeThePlace pic.twitter.com/BFZDhMBSqc
— Virginia Softball (@UVASoftball) April 2, 2026
Alex Call scored on the play after, reaching on a single to open the inning. Duke responded, however, with a solo shot in the bottom of the sixth to take it back out to a three-run lead.
Courtney Layne (10-3) took the loss, allowing two runs on five hits with a walk and three strikeouts through 4.0 innings of work.
Cassidy Curd (12-2) picked up the win in relief, allowing one run on one hit with three strikeouts.
ADDITIONAL NOTES
- Reagan Hickey’s home run was her eighth of the season and traveled 272 feet off the bat.
FROM HEAD COACH JOANNA HARDIN
“Overall we didn’t play our best softball tonight- Duke was able to take advantage of a few mistakes and free passes. We didn’t capitalize on our opportunities, specifically when we had bases loaded in the third inning. Courtney (Layne) was excellent coming back and putting up 3 zeroes after the two-run home run. It was really great to see her bounce back and execute under pressure. I know we are a better team that we played today and I trust that we will come back out tomorrow and play to our full potential.”
UP NEXT
Virginia and Duke continue the series on Friday with game two of the series at 6 p.m. on ACCNX.
If you want even more award-winning coverage on the UVA athletics department, including its nationally-ranked football and basketball programs, be sure to subscribe to “Cavalier Exclusive” to follow all of Virginia Sports Hall Of Famer Jerry “Hootie” Ratcliffe’s analysis and content. It’s the best in the business for Wahoo Fans!
