FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The University of Notre Dame softball team eliminated the Harvard Crimson in the consolation bracket of the NCAA Fayetteville Regional Saturday evening. Karina Gaskins tied a program record, driving in all five runs in the victory. The win improves Notre Dame’s record to 30-18-1, marking the 34th season in program history with at least 30 wins.
Payton Tidd started her 26th game of the season against the Crimson. The graduate student threw 3.1 innings, allowing four hits, two earned runs and struck out two in a no-decision. Shannon Becker was in relief, throwing the final 3.2 innings, allowing three hits and striking out three to earn the win.
Karina Gaskins led the Irish offense, tying Emilee Koerner’s school record (2014) for RBI in an NCAA Tournament game. Gaskins finished 3-for-3 with five RBI and was a triple short of the cycle. Anna Holloway and Brooke Marquez added a pair of two-hit efforts in the victory. Joley Mitchell and Carlli Kloss also tallied hits, scoring one and two runs, respectively.
How It Happened
Notre Dame got on the board in the bottom of the first inning, scoring twice. Mitchell led the inning off with an infield hit to the shortstop and Kloss followed with a bunt single to put two on. Gaskins drove a pitch to the wall in right center to score both as the Irish took the 2-0 lead.
Harvard got on the board with a solo homer in the top of the second to cut the lead in half.
The Crimson rallied to tie the game in the fourth. A one-out single put a runner on for Savannah Fitzpatrick who doubled to right center to bring in a run and knot the game.
Notre Dame answered right back in the bottom of the frame. Marquez flipped the lineup over after she lined a shot right back at the pitcher who knocked it down, but Marquez legged out the hit. After a strikeout, Kloss was hit by a pitch to put two on. Gaskins drove an outside pitch to right field for a three-run homer to retake the lead at 5-2.
Up Next
The Irish take on the host Arkansas Razorbacks Saturday evening in another win-or-go home scenario.