#21/22 Irish Open 2015 With A 3-1 Win Over Utah

LOS ANGELES – The University of Notre Dame softball team used timely situational hitting and a masterful pitching performance from junior Allie Rhodes to down Utah 3-1 on Friday in the second game of the day in the So Cal Collegiate Classic at Easton Stadium.

No. 21/22 Notre Dame (1-0) won its second straight season opener, improving to 5-0 in its all-time series with Utah (0-2). The Irish outhit the Utes 7-4, including a pair of extra base knocks, and added one stolen base. With the win, 14th-year Notre Dame head coach Deanna Gumpf claimed her 550th career victory in the Irish dugout.

Rhodes (1-0) won in her second consecutive opening day outing, allowing only one run on four hits, walking two and striking out seven Utah Batters. Rhodes retired 12 Ute hitters by way of fly out, earning the complete game win on 112 pitches.

Seniors Jenna Simon, Emilee Koerner and Cassidy Whidden logged all three RBI for Notre Dame in the victory, with Koerner’s fifth inning RBI double providing the winning run. Whidden later launched a monster solo shot to left field in the bottom of the sixth inning for the first Irish home run of 2015.