CLEARWATER, Fla. – The University of Notre Dame softball team dropped both matchups during Friday’s opening day action at the NFCA Leadoff Classic.
Olivia Levitt, Rebecca Eckart and Jillian Torres shined on day one. Levitt notched three hits and three runs scored while Eckart launched her first homer of the season, drove in four on the day and drew four free passes. Torres, in her collegiate debut today, logged three hits, including a double, and her first career RBI.
Notre Dame pitching totaled 14 strikeouts over the two games, highlighted by Brianne Weiss’ nine.
The Irish will look to bounce back tomorrow at 3 p.m. against North Carolina Central followed by a meeting with Longwood at 6 p.m.
Game 1 – Auburn
Auburn jumped out to a fast start, scoring two runs in the first following runs in the second and third to make it 4-0 Tigers early.
Notre Dame scored its first run of the season in the bottom of the third inning on back-to-back doubles from Olivia Levitt and Rebecca Eckart to cut the Auburn lead to three in the third inning.
The Irish added another pair of scores in the bottom of the fifth, as Eckart clubbed a ball deep into the Florida twilight sky up and over the left field fence to cut the lead to just one after five. It was the second career home run for the sophomore catcher.
That ball is GONE 🚀
2-run shot for @RebeccaEckart24 💪
📺 @GetGameChanger pic.twitter.com/nzatHtYcvG
— Notre Dame Softball (@NDsoftball) February 6, 2026
After the Tigers added an insurance run in the top of the seventh, Caroline O’Brien ripped a double off the fence in left center field to leadoff the final frame. Moments later, Mickey Winchell legged out an infield single to put runners on the corners with no outs.
A Levitt sac fly scored O’Brien, who made a nifty slide at home to avoid the tag, cut the lead to just one with only one out in the inning. But back-to-back flyouts ended the threat as Auburn took the win 5-4.
Game 2 – BYU
Notre Dame got the bats rolling early, scoring three runs in the top of the first off three hits. Levitt, Eckart and Torres all laced RBI singles in the opening frame.
Micaela Kastor made her 47th career start in an Irish uniform. The senior tossed a scoreless opening inning, but was chased in the third after loading the bases with no outs. She struck out three in two innings.
With two on in the top of the third, Sydny Poeck drilled one out to right center field, scoring Eckart and Torres to put the Irish up 5-2 at the time.
Clutch piece of hitting for @SydnyPoeck2023
📺@GetGameChanger pic.twitter.com/MqP9ShKlGd
— Notre Dame Softball (@NDsoftball) February 7, 2026
Weiss relieved Kastor in the third inning with the bases loaded and no outs. Weiss punched out three in a row to leave them stranded as Notre Dame took a 5-4 lead into the fourth inning.
A solo home run for the Cougars tied the game up at five in the fifth. BYU starter Gianna Mares had settled into a groove after allowing five early runs, coasting to three consecutive scoreless innings. The Cougars then scored three in the bottom of the sixth to take an 8-5 lead into the seventh inning.
Back-to-back walks by Levitt and Eckart chased Mares to start the seventh. But a ground out and a double play ended the Irish threat, giving BYU the 8-5 victory.