SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – The University of Notre Dame softball team posted its first comeback win of the season Wednesday, taking down UC Santa Barbara with a three-run seventh inning to down the Gaunchos 8-6. The Irish are now 10-15 on the year.
Offensively, Olivia Levitt was the difference, lining a go-ahead two-run double in the top of the seventh to put Notre Dame up for good. Ava Zachary logged a pair of hits and three RBI while Sydny Poeck’s three hits bumped her team-best average to .397 on the year.
Brianne Weiss was masterful in the circle, throwing 3.1 shutout relief innings to close the game and keep Notre Dame in the game. Micaela Kastor, who started the game, tossed three innings and didn’t allow an earned run.
Notre Dame continues its road trip this weekend at #19/20 Stanford for a three-game series. Game one is set for Friday at 9:00 p.m. ET/6:00 p.m. PT on ACC Network Extra.
How it happened
The Irish scored first, as Sydny Poeck lined a ball into left field to score Caroline O’Brien, who doubled earlier in the inning. Notre Dame had a 1-0 lead before Micaela Kastor stepped into the circle.
With the game tied at one and the bases loaded in the top of the second, Ava Zachary launched a ball into the right center field gap, clearing the bases to give the Irish a 4-1 lead. Poeck doubled in a run in the top of the fourth to make it 5-1 heading in the bottom of the fourth.
The Gauchos scored five in the fourth inning to take the lead, notching six hits in the frame to take a 6-5 lead.
But the Irish fought back. Down in the top of the seventh, back-to-back singles by Poeck and Hayden Kyne put the go-ahead run on first for Rebecca Eckart, who lined a double into the gap in right center field to tie up the game. That’s when Olivia Levitt dug into the box, lashing one down the left field line and into the corner, scoring the go-ahead runs to put the Irish up 8-6. It was the 13th and 14th RBI of the season for Levitt, who leads the team.
Brianne Weiss was dominant in relief Wednesday afternoon. The sophomore tossed 3.1 innings, striking out six while only allowing two hits. The southpaw didn’t surrender a walk and secured her team-leading fifth win of the season.