CLEARWATER, Fla. — RV Notre Dame bested South Alabama Sunday 3-1 to claim a 3-2 record for the 2020 NFCA Leadoff Classic. Morgan Ryan recorded the win for the Irish, while Alexis Holloway marked the save. Freshman Joley Mitchell led the Irish on offense for the weekend with a .600 batting average and seven walks through five games.
For her performance on the weekend, Holloway was named to the NFCA Leadoff Classic All-Tournament Team.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Notre Dame started the game in the batter’s box and did damage quickly, as Leea Hanks singled and stole second, scoring on an Abby Sweet double. Emma Clark was up next to bat and reached base on a South Alabama throwing error, as Sweet scored.
Payton Tidd started on the mound for the Irish, holding the Jaguars scoreless in the first two innings. Notre Dame added to the score in the third, as Sweet slapped a triple and scored on a Clark groundout.
South Alabama posted a run in the bottom of the third after two singles and a sacrifice fly. Tidd and the Irish cleaned up quickly, holding the Jaguars to just the singular score.
Morgan Ryan entered the game in the fourth for the Irish and pitched two innings, giving up one hit. Both teams were held scoreless, as Holloway entered the game in the sixth. The junior pitcher and captain ended the game on a swinging strikeout, giving up just one hit in the two innings.
THEY SAID IT
“I’m proud of the way our team competed this weekend,” Notre Dame head coach Deanna Gumpf said. “Multiple members of our team stepped up to help us win. It’s an encouraging start to the season, and we know what we need to do moving forward.”
UP NEXT
The Irish will head to Raleigh, N.C., to compete in the ACC/B1G Ten Challenge. Competition begins Friday, Feb. 14, as Notre Dame takes on Illinois.
Follow along on Twitter @NDSoftball and und.com/sports/softball for updates.