EVANSTON, Ill. – After a four-hour rain delay, the University of Notre Dame took the field in an elimination game against the Horizon League Champion Oakland Golden Grizzlies at Sharon J. Drysdale Field. The Fighting Irish came out hot, scoring early and often to earn an 16-1 victory in five innings. The Irish advance to another elimination game against the McNeese Cowgirls immediately following the contest with Oakland. The win is Notre Dame’s 40th of the season, the 18th time in program history.
Alexis Holloway got the start in the circle, facing the minimum over three innings. She didn’t allow a base runner as she earned five strikeouts to earn her 15th win of the season. Payton Tidd game on in relief, throwing the next two innings, allowing a run on three hits and picking up a strikeout.
The Irish offense had 13 hits in the contest, led by a 3-for-3 performance from junior outfielder Leea Hanks. Hanks finished with a home run, a stolen base, scored four times and drove in three. Joley Mitchell added three hits, and four RBI to go with her fourth homer of the year. Marquez also finished 3-for-3 in the nine-spot of the lineup.
The Irish struck first with a two-out rally in the top of the first inning. Hanks led off with a single and stole second and scored when Karina Gaskins drove a double to the gap in right center. Kronenberger followed with a single off the wall in right to bring in Gaskins and extend the lead to 2-0.
Notre Dame kept the offense rolling in the second, scoring six runs with two outs. A fielder’s choice and a single put two on as Hanks drove a single up the middle to score Abby Sweet. Another single from Gaskins drove in a run before a walk to Jane Kronenberger continued the rally. Mitchell tucked a double down the third base line to score two and Miranda Johnson drove in a pair with a single of her own as the Irish sent nine to the plate in the inning.
After scoring another run in the third, Hanks hammered a two-run homer to right field to extend the lead to 11-0.
Oakland got on the board in the bottom of the fourth with a solo homer from Madison Jones.
Notre Dame kept the scoring going, plating five in the fifth. Marquez led off with a homer and Mitchell put the exclamation point on it with a homer of their own as the Irish extended the lead to 16-1 in the mercy-rule shortened game.
Up Next
The Irish are back in action immediately following the win over Oakland as they will face McNeese in an elimination game against the Cowgirls.