April 29, 2018
NOTRE DAME, Ind. ââ’¬” In the final regular-season home game for the University of Notre Dame softball senior class of Sara White, Morgan Reed and Katie Beriont, it was the Irish who emerged the victors. Notre Dame scored two runs in the second and one in the sixth inning to defeat No. 8/6 Florida State 3-1 on a beautiful Sunday afternoon at Melissa Cook Stadium.
Notre Dame (31-20, 13-10 ACC) picked up its fourth win against a top-25 opponent this season with the victory over Florida State (41-10, 18-3 ACC), which was just the third league loss for the Atlantic Coast Conference’s (ACC) top seed this season. Notre Dame has now earned 42 wins against opponents ranked in the top-15 nationally since 1992, and Sunday’s win was the 29th time the Irish have defeated a top-10 foe in their history. The Irish have earned at least one top-10 win in each season since 2014.
How It Happened
Florida State scratched out a one-out hit in the top of the first inning, but Alexis Holloway (19-12) cooled the Seminoles from there. A fielder’s choice to Katie Marino at second base and a ground ball back to the circle left the runner stranded.
An RBI double with one out in the top of the second gave Florida State a 1-0 lead, but that would be the lone run of the day for the Seminole attack. Holloway bounced right back with a swinging strikeout, and a fly ball out to Abby Sweet in center limited the damage.
Notre Dame immediately responded and took the lead in the bottom of the second inning. Cait Brooks laced a leadoff single into right field, and took second base on a Melissa Rochford sacrifice bunt. Marino battled to a full-count with one away and grooved a 3-2 pitch into the gap in right center, plating Brooks to tie the game at 1-1. Sara White followed by fouling off seven consecutive pitches before straightening out an RBI single up the middle, scoring Marino for the 2-1 Irish lead.
Two Florida State singles in the top of the third inning were left stranded on the bases. A nice play by MK Bonamy on a stab at first base put out the final Seminole hitter of the inning.
Florida State left two singles on once more in the top of the fourth frame thanks to unshakeable pitching from Holloway. The second Seminole out was earned by a strikeout looking, and Ali Wester chased down a fly ball in left field to hold the one-run advantage.
Just when a leadoff double for Florida State appeared it would do the damage for the visitors in the top of the fifth, the Notre Dame defense had other ideas. Two straight outs to Bonamy at first base started the inning, and even a two-out walk did not slow the Irish resolve. On a hard ground ball up the middle, Marino deflected the ball into the waiting glove of Morgan Reed for the force at second base and a huge out number three.
Perhaps the best offensive chance of the game for Florida State was in the top of the sixth inning. A bunt single, a hit by pitch and a five-pitch walk loaded the bases for the Seminoles with two away, but Florida State did not capitalize. Holloway fooled the next batter on a 1-2 inside pitch to fire up the Melissa Cook Stadium crowd.
Notre Dame tacked on an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth. Sweet led off being hit by a pitch, and cruised into second base with a one-out stolen base. Facing an 0-2 count with two outs, Rochford ripped an RBI double off the wall in right center for the 3-1 Irish advantage.
Holloway returned for her final inning of work in the top of the seventh inning and finished off the game. A foul ball out down the line in left field notched the first out, and a fly ball out to center went in the book for the second out. A five-pitch walk brought the tying run to the plate, but Holloway sat down the final Florida State hitter by way of a swinging strikeout.
Up Next
Notre Dame travels to Atlanta for the 2018 ACC Softball Championship from May 9-12 at Georgia Tech’s Mewborn Field.