April 7, 2018
by Tony Jones
NOTRE DAME, Ind. – Crucial hits from Katie Marino and Abby Sweet made the mark on the scoreboard, while a complete-game six-hitter in the circle from Alexis Holloway set the table for a 2-1 win for the University of Notre Dame softball team over Syracuse on Saturday in Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) play at Melissa Cook Stadium.
Notre Dame (24-12, 8-4 ACC) utilized a solo home run from Marino in the bottom of the fourth inning and a scalding single up the middle for an RBI by Sweet in the bottom of the sixth to tally both its runs against Syracuse (18-15, 4-8 ACC). The Orange stranded 10 runners on base in the contest, and fell to 1-8 this season in games decided by one run.
Holloway (15-8) picked up the first home victory of her Notre Dame career, throwing seven strong innings of six-hit softball against the Syracuse order. The freshman right-hander yielded four walks and struck out six on the afternoon.
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How It Happened
Notre Dame battled out of bases-loaded jam in the top of the first inning to stonewall the Syracuse order. A great play by Alexis Holloway to flip home on a squeeze play, and a groundout back to the circle ended the Orange ups.
Holloway motored through the Syracuse order in the top of the second. A fly out to Abby Sweet in center and back-to-back swinging strikeouts turned the visitors aside in their half.
Notre Dame broke through for its first hit in the bottom of the fourth inning, and a giant first hit it was. Katie Marino teed off on a 2-0 pitch and drove it over the fence in left center for a leadoff home run. Marino’s sixth long ball of the season made it 1-0 in favor of the Irish.
An infield single and hit by pitch put two runners on for Syracuse in the top of the fifth with the Orange looking to answer, but it was Holloway and the Notre Dame defense that were again up to the challenge. A ground ball out to Melissa Rochford at third base and a line drive out to Ali Wester in left field ended the Syracuse surge.
Syracuse tied the game when a double to the gap in right center brought a leadoff Orange single all the way home in the top of the sixth inning to square the game at 1-1. Holloway shook the double off quickly and forced a foul out to MK Bonamy near first base and a grounder that was neatly gloved by Marino at second to get out of the jam.
Notre Dame stormed back into the lead in the bottom of the sixth. Marino drew a walk on a full-count pitch with two outs to reach, and cruised into second with a stolen base. Facing a 1-2 count of her own, Sweet blasted a single up the middle that found green grass and brought Marino in from second for the 2-1 Irish lead.
Syracuse kept its drive going with an infield single and one out in the top of the seventh, but the runner would not advance past first base. A fielder’s choice to second and a fly ball out to Wester in left field sealed the win for Notre Dame and the complete game for Holloway.
Up Next
Notre Dame and Syracuse are scheduled to finish the three-game ACC series with a Sunday doubleheader beginning at 10:30 a.m. (ET) at Melissa Cook Stadium.
–ND–
Tony Jones, athletics communications assistant director at the University of Notre Dame, has been part of the Fighting Irish athletics communications team since 2012 and coordinates all media efforts for the Notre Dame softball, men’s soccer and swimming and diving programs. A native of Jamestown, New York, Jones is a 2011 graduate of St. Bonaventure University, and prior to arriving at Notre Dame held positions at the University of Louisiana Monroe and with the National Football League’s Buffalo Bills.