Clutch Hitting Propels Irish To Victory At Georgia Tech

The University of Notre Dame softball team (10-7, 4-5) earned a victory in game one of a three-game series at Georgia Tech (8-16, 3-12) 5-2 on Friday afternoon. Clutch hitting was the story of the game for the Fighting Irish, as Notre Dame finished six-for-11 in the game with two outs including the biggest two-out hit if the game – senior Katie Marino’s game-winning, bases-loaded, three-RBI double with two down in the top of the seventh inning. 

Payton Tidd earned the victory for the Irish, working 6.2 innings, scattering five hits and striking out three. Alexis Holloway picked up her first save of the year, striking out the lone batter she faced in the bottom of the seventh with two runners on base. 

The Irish will be back in action tomorrow, Saturday, March 20, 2021, against Georgia Tech at 2 p.m. ET in game two of the series (ACC Network Extra). 

HOW IT HAPPENED

Tidd opened up the scoring in the game in the bottom of the first inning with an RBI double down the left field line to score leadoff hitter Abby Sweet. The Yellow Jackets came back to tie the game the third by manufacturing a run without getting a ball out of the infield. A lead off single to second base, followed by a stolen base, then two ground outs left the teams even at 1-1 heading into the fourth inning. 

Tidd escaped more pressure in that fourth inning after allowing a lead off walk. The Irish defense stepped up on the ensuing sacrifice bunt, with Chelsea Purcell fielding the ball cleanly and picking off the lead runner at second base. A ground ball and fly out ended any scoring threat for the home team. 

Purcell followed up her defensive play with a solo home run in the fifth inning to put Notre Dame back in front 2-1. It was the first home run of the year for Purcell and the second of her career – a laser beam crushed over the left field wall.

Georgia Tech came back to tie the game up in the sixth inning on a lead off solo home run by Crosby Huckaby which set up the dramatic seventh inning.  

Leea Hanks led off Notre Dame’s half of the seventh with a triple to chase off Tech starting pitcher Madison McPherson for reliever Morgan Bruce. Bruce initially answered the call and forced two successive ground balls, one of which allowed Hanks to get cut down at home plate attempting to score from third base. 

Now with two outs, Sweet posted her third hit of the game, a single to put runners at first and second. Emma Clark then stepped in and loaded the bases with an infield single back to the pitcher. That set the stage for Marino’s huge double, which was driven over the right fielder’s head to clear the bases and put the Irish ahead to stay.

Georgia Tech’s Cameron Stanford hit a one-out home run in the bottom of the seventh for the Yellow Jackets and the home team continued to threaten after a walk and single. Holloway entered the game for Tidd and struck out Huckaby for the save and Irish victory. 

NOTES

• Abby Sweet (3-4 today) improved her ACC-leading batting average to .561 and increased her streak of games reaching base to 35. 
• Sweet has now posted a hit in 10 consecutive games and has failed to post a hit just once so far this season. It also marks the 10th multiple-hit game of the season for Sweet. 
• Alexis Holloway picked up her 11th career save and first of the season. 
• Payton Tidd improved to 5-4 in 2021 and 34-16 overall in her career.