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Irish Fall at Northwestern, 3-1

EVANSTON, Ill. — On a midweek visit to Big Ten-leading Northwestern on Tuesday, the University of Notre Dame softball team dropped a 3-1 decision to the Wildcats at Sharon J. Drysdale Field.

The Wildcats (30-7, 9-0 Big Ten) tagged Irish starter Payton Tidd for a pair of runs in the second inning and added another in the third while limiting the Irish (24-13, 7-5 Atlantic Coast Conference) to just a run on three hits. 

Sarah Genz recorded a hit and an RBI, while Cait Brooks and Melissa Rochford accounted for the rest of the Irish hits. Tidd allowed three runs on five hits in three innings, while Morgan Ryan and Alexis Holloway combined for three scoreless innings in relief.

Key Innings

Bottom 2 | The Irish appeared poised to escape a bases-loaded jam before Tidd gave up a two-strike, two-run single to Morgan Nelson.

Bottom 3 | Northwestern extended its lead on a single by Jordyn Rudd.

Top 4 | The Irish got on the board in the fourth thanks to an RBI single up the left side by pinch-hitter Sarah Genz. Batting for starting shortstop Quinn Biggio, Genz plated Abby Sweet for her fourth RBI of the season.

Top 5 | The Irish looked to score again after a walk to Katie Marino, a single by Cait Brooks and a sacrifice by Sweet put runners in scoring position, but the Wildcats worked out of the inning with two outs on the bases with Marino and Brooks running on contact with one out.

ACC Honors

Prior to the game, the Atlantic Coast Conference announced Irish senior infielder MK Bonamy as the league’s Player of the Week. Bonamy hit .667 and slugged 1.111 with seven RBI, three walks, two stolen bases, a double and a home run as the Irish won a midweek tilt against IUPUI and swept Boston College over the weekend.

Up Next

The Irish will return home for a three-game set with ACC foe NC State beginning 6 p.m. ET Friday at Melissa Cook Stadium.