ELON, N.C. – The University of Notre Dame softball team cruised to a 16-3 run rule victory over the Elon Phoenix Tuesday night at Hunt Softball Stadium in North Carolina. The Irish offense had eight of nine starters earn at least one hit as the offense racked up 12 hits on the day, six for extra bases.
Shannon Becker handled business in the circle. The sophomore hurler earned her fourth win of the season, throwing 4.0 innings, allowing just two hits, two runs, none earned and struck out two. Paige Cowley and Micaela Kastor worked the seventh. Kastor gave up a hit as Cowley gave up a run.
Miranda Johnson led the powerful Irish offense. The senior second baseman finished 3-for-4 with an RBI and scored twice. Carlli Kloss added a 2-for-4 effort with a pair of doubles. She added an RBI and scored twice. Lexi Orozco finished with a team-high five RBI, going 1-for-2. She hit a grand slam and drew a walk with the bases loaded. Anna Holloway added a three-run homer late. Reigning ACC Player of the Week Joley Mitchell finished 1-for-3 with a double, two RBI and scored once.
How It Happened
The Irish wasted no time, scoring four runs in the top of the first inning. A double, a single and a walk loaded the bases for Orozco who hit her sixth homer of the season to put Notre Dame up 4-0.
Notre Dame hung another crooked number in the top of the fourth, plating nine runs. Kloss, Orozco, Mitchell, Kronenberger and Johnson all had RBI in the frame to extend the lead to 13-0.
Elon got on the board in the fourth as a ground ball through an Irish infielder’s legs made it to the wall to allow a run to score from first. A rundown with runners on the corners added the second run to cut the lead to 13-2 after four innings.
Holloway extended the lead in the top of the fifth, hitting her first home run of the season to extend the lead to 16-2. The Irish walked in a run in the bottom of the fifth as the game finished due to mercy rule.
Up Next
The Irish are back in action tomorrow as they take on UNCG in Greensboro at 5 p.m.