SOUTH BEND, Ind. – The University of Notre Dame softball team earned a 15-0 five inning victory over the visiting IUPUI Jaguars Tuesday night at Melissa Cook Stadium. The Irish jumped all over the Jaguars with a nine-run first inning and cruised to its fourth shutout victory of the season. The Fighting Irish improve to 19-8-1 on the season with the victory.
Payton Tidd, Shannon Becker and Micaela Kastor combined for the win in the circle. Tidd started, throwing 2.0 innings, allowing three hits and striking out two. Shannon Becker earned the win in relief, throwing 2.0 innings without allowing a hit and striking out a pair. Kastor worked a clean fifth, sitting the Jaguars down in order.
The Irish offense had just two multi-hit efforts in the contest, led by Karina Gaskins and Anna Holloway. Eight of nine starters recorded a hit in the game, with three pinch hit base knocks. Mac Vasquez and Rachel Allen came in off the bench, each hitting a home run. It was Vasquez’s first of her career, Allen’s fourth, third of the season.
How It Happened.
The Irish didn’t waste any time, scoring nine runs in the first. Notre Dame rallied for seven hits in the frame, batting around and seeing Joley Mitchell score two runs in the inning. Carlli Kloss added a two RBI triple in the frame.
The second inning saw the Irish score just one run. A double from Leea Hanks started the inning as she moved up on an infield single from Holloway. A wild pitch allowed Holloway to take second, and the throw got into the outfield, allowing Hanks to score.
Vasquez made the splash in the third inning. After a double off the wall from Cassidy Grimm, Vasquez lifted it to deep center field to extend the lead to 12-0.
A two-out rally in the fourth added three more runs. A single from Holloway and a Mikayla LaPlaca pinch hit hit batter put two on. Allen homered to centerfield to extend the lead to 15-0.
Up Next
Notre Dame is back in action this Friday as it hosts Pitt in a three-game series. This weekend is also the program’s Strikeout Cancer weekend. Join the team at Melissa Cook Stadium all weekend for events throughout games.