Gaskins Homers in Series Finale Loss at Louisville

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The University of Notre Dame softball team closed the weekend against the Louisville Cardinals with a 6-2 loss Saturday afternoon. The Fighting Irish scored first, but a rally from the Cardinals in the fourth inning proved to be the difference. Notre Dame is now 23-11-1 on the season, and 7-7-1 in ACC action after taking the series from Louisville. The Cardinals improve to 25-12 and 10-4 in conference action. 

Graduate student Payton Tidd got the start in the circle. She worked 3.2 innings, allowing nine hits, five earned runs and struck out one before giving way to Shannon Becker. The sophomore threw 2.1 innings, allowing just three hits, one earned run and struck out two. 

The offense was led by Karina Gaskins. The junior finished 2-for-4 with a home run. Macie Eck added a 3-for-3 effort. Leea Hanks and Anna Holloway each finished 1-for-3, Hanks scoring a run on Holloway’s single. Carlli Kloss added a single in the seventh inning. 

How It Happened

The Irish took an early lead, plating a run in the top of the second inning. Hanks led off with a single to center and went first to third when Eck singled through the right side. Holloway dropped a single into left field for the first run of the contest. 

Louisville tied it up in the third, as a two-out triple was followed with a single to knot the game at one. 

The Cardinals kept a rally going in the fourth, plating four more runs. Six consecutive hits, concluding with an RBI double, opened the game up, giving Louisville the 5-1 advantage. 

Gaskins cut into the lead with a solo home run in the top of the fifth inning to make it 5-2, Cardinals.

Louisville tacked on an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth. 

Notre Dame’s seventh inning had a runner reach with a base hit, but couldn’t keep the rally going, falling 6-2. 

Up Next

The Irish return to the field Tuesday evening as they head to Michigan State for a matchup with the Spartans.