The University of Notre Dame softball team (19-11, 3-4) dropped the first of a three-game Atlantic Coast Conference series at Syracuse (13-18, 3-4) 9-1 in six innings on Friday afternoon at Skytop Stadium in Syracuse, New York.
The Orange earned all nine runs over the final two innings, including seven in the bottom of the sixth to end the game early. Cait Brooks led the Irish with two hits and an RBI.
HOW IT HAPPENED
After two quiet innings to begin the game, Notre Dame claimed a 1-0 lead in the top of the third after an Alexis Bazos lead off walk. She moved to second on an infield single from Ali Wester and would score from there on a an RBI single up the middle by Brooks (after Katie Marino popped up a bunt attempt). Syracuse escaped further damage in the inning with a strikeout.
Irish starting pitcher Peyton Tidd kept Orange off the scoreboard until the fifth inning. After a lead off bunt hit, Syracuse scored on an RBI double down the left field line followed by a ground out RBI to take a 2-1 lead.
Notre Dame turned to the bullpen in the sixth inning hoping to extend to their final at-bat and Morgan Ryan picked up a strike out to begin the inning. The Orange followed with back-to-back singles, followed by two-RBI double to take a 4-1 lead. Alexis Holloway then entered the game, but issued a walk then a looping single into centerfield that Abby Sweet just missed on a diving attempt.
Two more runners scored on the play, followed by a wild pitch and a bases clearing triple to give the Orange seven runs in the bottom of the sixth.
NEXT UP
The Irish and Orange will cap their three-game ACC series with a doubleheader on Saturday, March 30, with game on starting at 1 p.m. ET.