SOUTH BEND, Ind. – The University of Notre Dame softball team opened up the 2026 home season Friday night at Melissa Cook Stadium. It’s the 19th year of Irish softball at Melissa Cook Stadium (including 2020, when no games were played at home due to Covid 19). The Irish fell to Clemson 0-4.
It was a pitcher’s dual all night, as both teams combined for just one run through the first five innings.
Ava Zachary extended her hitting streak to 12 on an infield single in the sixth inning. The freshman from Mishawaka made her home debut donning the blue and gold. She’s hitting .371 this season.
Micaela Kastor, who started in the circle for the Irish, gave up just one earned run over 4.1 innings of work. However, seven free passes plagued the senior as she was chased in the fifth inning. With the bases loaded and only one out, Kami Kamzik got back-to-back strikeouts to keep the deficit just one.
Notre Dame will look to even the series tomorrow at 1:00 p.m. on ACC Network Extra. Admission to all regular season Irish softball games is free.