GULF SHORES, Ala. --
Kayla Duke's masterful pitching performance paved the way to a 3-0 IU Southeast victory over 12th-ranked Union (Tenn.) at the NAIA Tournament on Friday night.
Duke gave up three hits and walked three batters while striking out five batters in a complete-game shutout. She had a no-hitter through five innings. The key for Duke was the number of strikes she was able to get on the batters she faced. She threw 135 pitches on the night, 89 were for strikes.
The Grenadiers scored two runs in the top of the first inning and provided all the cushion that Duke needed to get the win. After
Kate Toney reached base on a two-out walk, back-to-back doubles by
Nicole Mills and
Rachel Mulvey made it 2-0.
The Grenadiers added another run in the fifth as
Megan Sutherland scored on a another single by Mills.
Mills and Duke had two-hit games for IU Southeast who scratched out seven hits in the contest.
The Grenadiers face Lindsey Wilson at 11:30 a.m. on Saturday morning. The Blue Raiders are 0-2 in pool play. The Grenadiers are the only undefeated team left in Pool E.
