LYNCHBURG, Virginia — Notre Dame Softball (4-5) split opening day of the Liberty Classic, taking an 8-2 morning win over Villanova before suffering a final-inning loss to RV Liberty (2-3). Senior pitcher Alexis Holloway (3-2) earned the win vs. Villanova with 13 strikeouts, a career-best, while junior pitcher Payton Tidd (1-3) shouldered the loss to Liberty.
Holloway was the player of the day for the Irish, as she allowed just two runs in 6.1 innings during her 13-strikeout campaign vs. Villanova. Her 13 K on the day are the most by any ACC pitcher in a single game this season. Her previous strikeout high was 12, which came from her first-ever game in an Irish uniform in 2018 (Feb. 9 vs. Seattle at the Kajikawa Classic in Tempe, Arizona).
In the batter’s box vs. Villanova, she also made a statement, notching two hits, including a 3-RBI double in the sixth.
In the second game, the Irish battled in the box, as no Notre Dame player struck out against Liberty. Graduate student infielder Katie Marino hit her first home run of the season, and 26th of her career, to get Notre Dame’s two runs on the board against the Flames.
Senior outfielder Abby Sweet continued her on-base streak, stretching it to 25 games at present. On the day, she totaled three hits (two doubles, one single), with a run scored and drawing two HBP. Her two HBP vs. Villanova marked the first time an Irish player was hit by a pitch twice in one game since Sweet was twice vs. Illinois in the 2020 Big Ten/ACC Challenge (Feb. 15, 2020).
GAME ONE
Holloway took the circle first for the Irish, posting three strikeouts, two of which came with the bases loaded, to keep Villanova off the board. Sweet led off for the Irish in the box, and was hit by a pitch, advancing when junior Emma Clark was walked. Sweet was tagged out on a Marino fielder’s choice, leaving Clark on second and Marino on first.
A Villanova error helped Clark score, and sophomore Leea Hanks forced another error to score both Marino and senior infielder Sarah Genz. The Irish ended the inning up 3-0.
After two more Holloway strikeouts, Villanova brought in two runs on a single in the second, before junior Quinn Biggio chased down the runner to limit the damage. In the bottom half of the inning, Sweet was hit by a pitch on her second-consecutive at-bat, and advanced to third on subsequent at-bats thanks to a passed ball and error. Marino delivered a fielder’s choice to score Sweet, ending the second inning up 4-2.
Both teams were scoreless through the third, fourth and fifth innings, as Holloway added six more strikeouts. She posted two more strikeouts in the top of the sixth inning, totaling 13 on the day.
The Irish took the plate in the sixth looking for insurance runs, and were successful. Biggio led off with a single, as Sweet pushed her to third with a double. Clark walked to load the bases. Marino delivered a fielder’s choice which tagged Biggio out at the plate, but Sweet was brought home on a Genz walk. Holloway then doubled, scoring Marino, Clark and Genz to pad the lead.
The Wildcats were unable to respond in the seventh, as senior pitcher Morgan Ryan entered the circle to close with the final score 8-2.
GAME TWO
The Irish came out strong batting at Liberty, as Clark forced an error and Marino doubled. A double play ended the initial campaign, and Liberty took advantage of an Irish error with two outs to score a run, before freshman catcher Carlli Kloss put the inning away on a ground ball at 0-1.
Both teams were scoreless through the third and fourth innings, and the Irish again failed to record runs in the fifth. A Liberty home run increased the Flames’ lead to 0-2, but Notre Dame notched three-consecutive outs to end the inning.
In the sixth, the Irish responded. Clark singled, speeding to second on a throwing error for another base. Marino sent her home run outside the walls to bring both to the plate and even the score. The inning ended tied at 2-2, and Liberty was unable to score in the sixth.
Notre Dame went three up, three down in the top of the seventh, and after one out in the bottom of the inning, Liberty doubled to bring in a run, ending the game at 2-3.
UP NEXT
The Irish will face both teams again on the second day of the Liberty Classic Saturday. Notre Dame will take on Villanova at Noon ET and Liberty at 5:30 p.m. ET. Broadcast coverage of both games will be available on ESPN+, and live stats can be found at und.com/mediastats.