FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The University of Notre Dame softball team’s 2023 campaign came to an end at Bogle Park Saturday night. After eliminating Harvard earlier in the evening, the Fighting Irish dropped the day’s finale 5-0 to the host Arkansas Razorbacks. Notre Dame ends the season 30-19-1 overall, having qualified for their 24th consecutive NCAA Regional, and 27th in program history.
Freshman Micaela Kastor manned the circle for the Irish. Kastor worked a complete game, her third of the season as she allowed six hits, five earned runs and struck out four of an Arkansas lineup that finished second in the Southeastern Conference in batting average.
Lexi Orozco led the offense, going 2-for-3 with two singles. Joley Mitchell added another single as the Irish offense couldn’t get on track against first team All-SEC selection Chenise Delce.
How It Happened
Arkansas played the untraditional role of the visiting team at Bogle Park, and wasted no time getting on the board. A lead-off single followed by a fielder’s choice and two hit batters loaded the bases with two outs. A walk brought in the first run of the game.
The Razorbacks kept the pressure on in the second, this time using the bats. A single up the middle and another single back to center field brought in another run to double up the lead at 2-0 after an inning and a half.
The teams exchanged zeroes for the next four innings before Arkansas added insurance in the seventh. A called ball on a check swing put a runner on with a walk. A ground ball back up the middle led to a fielder’s choice as the runner from first was off on the pitch and beat the throw to second before the relay was too slow at first to put two on. Rylin Hedgecock left the yard for the 21st time on the season as the three-run homer put Arkansas up 5-0.