SOUTH BEND, Ind. – The University of Notre Dame softball team (20-27) dominated Michigan State Wednesday evening at Melissa Cook, defeating the Spartans 9-1 in five innings. The Irish improve to 14-1 all-time against Michigan State, including 7-0 at home, and are winners of the last nine matchups.
The bats exploded for Notre Dame all game, but especially early. The Irish chalked up seven runs on 10 hits in the first two innings combined and batted around the lineup in the second inning. Nine different Irish recorded base hits as Notre Dame hit .538 (7/13) with runners in scoring position. The Irish registered more hits (13) than outs (12) Wednesday evening.
Sophomore Caroline O’Brien logged her fourth three-hit game of the season, tacking on a pair of RBI as well for the Irish second baseman. O’Brien also swiped two stolen bases to improve her total to a career-high 11 on the season.
Sophomore Caitlyn Early, freshman Ava Zachary and freshman Hayden Kyne, the two-three-four spots in the Notre Dame lineup, shined on a sunny evening in South Bend. All three scored two runs while Kyne delivered a pair of RBI as well. Zachary stole two bases to make it 10 on the year for the Mishawaka, Indiana native.
In a four-run second inning, freshman slugger Lily Hagan went down and got a 1-2 offspeed pitch, blasting it over the left-center field fence and hitting the netting covering the scoreboard. It marked a team-best seventh homer of the year for Hagan.
Senior Pagie Cowley and junior Olivia Levitt both notched pinch-hit singles in the bottom of the fourth, both scoring runs in the inning to finalize the run-rule win. Tenley Sweet, Sydny Poeck and Kyne all doubled in the game as Notre Dame
The Irish controlled the circle all evening as well. Sophomore Brianne Weiss got the nod and logged four innings with eight strikeouts, the second-most of the season for the southpaw. Weiss picked up her team-high ninth win of the season. Kami Kamzik closed the game out in the bottom of the fifth, striking out a Spartan in a hitless effort.
Notre Dame continues the homestand this weekend, starting Friday night at 6:00 p.m. against Boston College on ACCNX. Admission to all Irish regular season softball games at Melissa Cook Stadium is free.