CLEARWATER, Fla. – The University of Notre Dame softball team split its first two games of the season at the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Leadoff Classic in Clearwater, Florida Friday. The Fighting Irish rallied in the seventh to defeat the Central Arkansas Sugar Bears 3-0 in the first game of the season, before falling 5-1 to the South Alabama Jaguars in the nightcap.
Alexis Laudenslager earned the win in the first game of the season, smothering the Central Arkansas lineup. The graduate transfer threw 6.1 innings, allowing just one hit, one walk and struck out seven. Kami Kamzik made her collegiate debut, earning a save by getting the final two outs of the game, one with her first career strikeout.
At the plate, the Irish were led by a pair of two-hit efforts from Karina Gaskins and Cassidy Grimm. Jane Kronenberger, Mac Vasquez and Rachel Allen each tallied a hit in the contest. Grimm delivered the first run of the season with the team’s first double in the seventh inning against the Sugar Bears.
The second half of the twinbill saw junior Shannon Becker get the start in the circle. Becker suffered the loss, throwing 1.1 innings, allowing four hits and four earned runs. Micaela Kastor took over, throwing 4.2 innings, scattering six hits, an earned run and striking out six.
Carlli Kloss, Mickey Winchell and Anna Holloway recorded hits in the contest. Kloss tripled late and scored the only Irish run of the game. Addi Amaral recorded her first collegiate RBI in the loss.
How It Happened
Game 1
The Irish broke open the scoreless game in the top of the seventh against Central Arkansas. Vasquez led off with a bloop single to left and moved up on a well-executed sacrifice from Anna Holloway. Grimm delivered the first run of the season with a double to left center, before scoring on a pinch-hit single from Allen. After an error, a stolen base and a fielder’s choice moved Kloss to third, Kronenberger delivered another run with a single to left to extend the lead to 3-0.
Kamzik came on with one out in the seventh, getting a strikeout and a fly out in her first appearance to earn the save.
Game 2
Game two started off with South Alabama striking first. The Jaguars scored three in the first inning, aided by three hits to take the early lead.
South Alabama added a solo run in the second to take the 4-0 lead. A leadoff home run in the fifth inning extended the Jaguar lead.
Notre Dame got on the board in the sixth inning. With one out, Kloss tripled to center field and scored when Amaral put the pressure on with a ball on the infield, forcing a high throw to first and bringing in Kloss.
The Irish could come no closer as South Alabama fended off the Notre Dame offense late.
Up Next
Notre Dame is back in action tomorrow as the Irish will take on No. 16/13 Utah at 1 p.m. on what will be the first softball game broadcasted live on the MLB Network before closing out the day with a 7 p.m. matchup with the Iowa Hawkeyes.