MADEIRA BEACH, Fla. – The University of Notre Dame softball team finished THE Spring Games a perfect 5-0, closing the weekend with a doubleheader sweep of FIU and Dartmouth. The Fighting Irish rallied to defeat FIU 4-3 and rode that momentum to a 7-4 victory over the Big Green to finish the weekend. The Irish improve to 10-4 with the wins.
Shannon Becker and Micaela Kastor combined for the win over FIU. Becker started, throwing 2.2 innings, allowing four hits, three runs, none of which were earned and struck out three. Kastor closed the game out, earning her second win of the season. The freshman threw 4.1 innings without allowing a hit and struck out five.
At the plate, the Irish offense went for seven hits against the Panthers. Leea Hanks led the team with a 2-for-3 performance and scored a run. Jane Kronenberger finished 1-for-3 with a two-run home run. Brooke Marquez drove in a run with a sacrifice fly in addition to a single of her own.
Payton Tidd started the nightcap in the circle. She threw 4.0 innings, allowing two runs, one earned on four hits and struck out three as she earned her fifth win of the season. Becker was the first reliever, throwing an inning, allowing two hits and two earned runs to go with a strikeout. Kastor picked up her first collegiate save, facing the minimum over 2.0 innings and striking out three.
Eight of nine starters in the Irish lineup recorded a hit, led by a 4-for-4 effort from freshman Mickey Winchell. Hanks finished 2-for-5 with a run scored as Karina Gaskins and Tidd provided the pop, each hitting a home run. Tidd finished 2-for-3 with two RBI, a run scored and a double to go with her second long ball of the season.
How It Happened – FIU
The Panthers got on the board in the top of the third inning, plating three runs. A single and a walk put two on with two outs. An error loaded the bases before a single to left scored two. Another single in the same direction added another run as FIU took the lead 3-0.
Notre Dame battled back late, scoring a pair of runs in the bottom of the fifth. A two-out single by Hanks set the stage for Kronenberger who homered to left.
The sixth inning featured some dramatics, as the Irish took the lead. Oroczo led off with a double to right and moved up with a single and a walk loaded the bases. Marquez looped a fly ball to right to tie the game. A fielder’s choice threw out the potential go-ahead run at the plate for the second out, putting runners on the corners. The Irish executed a double steal as Joley Mitchell slid in just under the tag to put the Irish up, 4-3.
Kastor sat the Panthers down in order in the top of the seventh, striking out two of the three looking at pitches on the outer half to secure the win.
How It Happened – Dartmouth
The Irish didn’t waste any time in the second game of the day, scoring in the top of the first. Kloss singled to shortstop and went first to third on a single to left center from Kronenberger. Gaskins drove her in with a sacrifice fly to right to put Notre Dame up 1-0.
The Big Green responded with a solo homer in its half of the first to tie the game at one.
After a scoreless second, Notre Dame drove in three in the top of the third. With two outs, Gaskins hit a solo homer to regain the lead. Orozco drew a walk before Tidd drove a ball over the left field fence for a two-run homer to extend the lead to 4-1.
The Irish struck for a pair of runs in the top of the fourth. A single from Winchell turned the lineup over and Hanks connected for a double to put runners in scoring position. Kloss drove a run in with a ground ball and Orozco drove in another with a single to left field to extend the lead to 6-1.
Dartmouth scratched home a solo run in the fourth. A two-base error and a single put runners in scoring position for a sacrifice fly to cut the Irish lead to 6-2 after four innings.
The Big Green brought it within two in the fifth. With two outs, a single and a walk put two on for the cleanup hitter who doubled to the fence in right to score two and cut the lead to 6-4.
The Irish pushed one more home in the top of the seventh as Kloss connected for a sacrifice fly.
Kastor made quick work of the Big Green in the seventh, sitting the opposition down in order with a couple of strikeouts.
Up Next
The Irish will open Atlantic Coast Conference action next weekend as they travel to Durham, N.C. for a three-game series against the #14/15 Duke Blue Devils.