Irish Hold Off #22 Virginia in Thriller

SOUTH BEND, Ind. – The Notre Dame softball team took down its third ranked opponent of the season, beating No. 22 Virginia 4-3 Friday night at Melissa Cook Stadium. With the win, the Irish improve to 15-19 on the year and 3-7 in ACC play.

With runners on second and third with no outs in the top of the seventh, Kami Kamzik stepped into the circle in a tough spot. But the sophomore stayed calm and collected, getting a huge swinging strikeout for the first out of the inning. Still in a jam, Kamzik delivered a 1-2 pitch to the next batter that was grounded down the third base line to Caroline O’Brien, who tagged the runner at third before firing the ball across the diamond for a game-winning double play to seal the victory. Kamzik picked up her first save of the season and second of her career. Three different Notre Dame pitchers have now recorded saves this season.

Micaela Kastor (7-4) pitched 3.1 scoreless innings of masterful softball after relieving Brianne Weiss in the third inning. The junior kept Notre Dame in the game after Virginia struck for three early runs. She struck out four and escaped a crucial bases-loaded jam with no outs in the top of the fifth to keep Notre Dame on top.

The Irish put up a three-spot in the bottom of the third to tie the game after three. Paige Cowley ripped a two run single past the diving Cavaliers’ second basemen that scored Sydny Poeck and Addison Amaral. Next batter up, Rachel Allen lined a ball into the right center field gap to tie the game at three. Allen finished with two hits on the night.

Poeck delivered the winning run in the next inning, hitting a sacrifice fly to fairly deep center field that scored Kronenberger and gave the Irish their fourth run.

In the win, Poeck extended her on-base streak to 14 games. She lined a leadoff single into left to start the bottom of the first and walked in the third. Anna Holloway now has four-straight games with a hit after her single in the bottom of the second.

Notre Dame will now turn its attention to tomorrow when the Irish welcome back the 22nd-ranked Cavaliers for a doubleheader at Melissa Cook Stadium. First pitch is set for 12 p.m. Admission is free to all Notre Dame softball games and both contests will be broadcast on ACC Network Extra.