SOUTH BEND, Ind. – The University of Notre Dame softball team (17-24, 6-11 ACC) dropped Saturday’s slugfest to Louisville (33-9, 9-4 ACC) by a score of 8-5, on a sunny afternoon at Melissa Cook Stadium. The game marked the program’s annual Strikeout Cancer game, part of a weekend of recognition and events.
Freshman Lily Hagan continues to make waves for the Irish. The two-way player hit a home run in the fourth inning, her fourth of the year, as well as tossed three innings in the circle for Notre Dame. Hagan’s ERA is now down to 2.10 in 10 innings this season, while those four home runs are tied for the team lead.
Leading off the bottom of the fifth, sophomore Caitlyn Early launched her second home run of the season, a ball that bounced off the top of the center field fence and over. It was Early’s first career home run at Melissa Cook Stadium, as the Irish first baseman also drew a pair of walks in today’s contest.
Freshman Ava Zachary posted her 12th multi-hit game of the season, a team-high. Zachary doubled off the base of the left field wall in the bottom of the third inning, her 11th double of the season, which is tied for the second-most by a freshman in the ACC this season.
Junior Kami Kamzik made the start for the Irish, and pitched well through four innings before running into trouble in the fifth. She struck out four on the day.
Notre Dame will go for the series win tomorrow at 1:00 p.m. at Melissa Cook Stadium. The game will be broadcast on ACC Network Extra and admission to all regular season Irish softball games is free.