LEESBURG, Fla. – The University of Notre Dame softball team completed a 5-0 weekend with a 6-4 win over Florida Gulf Coast on Sunday morning. The Irish did their damage early and continued to throw the ball well in the circle to earn the win. The Irish improve to 12-3 with the win and have won seven-consecutive games.
Payton Tidd started in the circle. The senior threw 4.0 innings, surrendering four hits, three runs, one earned and struck out two to improve to 4-1 on the season. . Alexis Holloway worked in relief, going the last 3.0 innings, allowing a run on four hits and struck out three earning her first save of the season.
At the plate Leea Hanks led the Irish attack, going 3-for-4 with an RBI and scored twice. Abby Sweet, Emma Clark and Sarah Genz all tallied multi-hit contests as Sweet scored twice and Genz drove in a pair.
Notre Dame took the early lead, plating a pair of runs in the top of the first. Sweet led off with a single behind first base, and moved up on a ground out. Hanks delivered a hot shot that was mishandled by the shortstop, allowing Sweet to score. Tidd followed with a single to right to bring in Hanks and put the Irish up 2-0 before FGCU had an at bat.
The Irish tacked on four more in the top of the second. Brooke Marquez led off the inning with a sharp hit ball that was mishandled and a sacrifice bunt moved her up and turned the lineup over. Sweet doubled and Clark singled to second base to bring in Marquez from third. Hanks delivered a single through the left side for another and stole a base to put two in scoring position. After an intentional walk to Tidd, Genz worked an eight-pitch at bat before singling up the middle to bring in two and extend the lead to 6-0.
Florida Gulf Coast answered in the bottom of the frame with three of their own. A lead-off walk and an error put two on for the FGCU first baseman who singled to right to bring in the first run. Another single and a sacrifice fly scored two more to cut the Irish lead to 6-3.
FGCU scratched a run home in the bottom of the sixth, and threatened with two runners in the seventh, but Holloway struck out the cleanup hitter and got the pinch hitter to pop up for the final out of the game.
Up Next
The Irish return to the diamond next Friday in Lynchburg, Virginia in the Liberty Softball Invitational as they will take on George Washington and Rutgers in a split doubleheader beginning at 11:30 a.