FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The University of Notre Dame softball team dropped the opening game of the NCAA Fayetteville Regional by a 5-4 tally to the No. 19 Oregon Ducks Friday night at Bogle Park. The Fighting Irish gave up five runs in the second inning,, but battled back after a two hour and 24 minute rain delay to cut the deficit to a single run with a chance in the seventh. Notre Dame falls to 29-18-1 on the season.
Payton Tidd started in the circle. The graduate student retired the first five hitters she faced before getting into some trouble. Tidd suffered the loss, allowing four hits, five earned runs and walking three. Micaela Kastor came on in relief, throwing 4.1 innings, scattering two hits and striking out two to close out the game.
Lexi Orozco led the offense with a 3-for-3 effort, driving in a run and scoring once. Joley Mitchell added a 2-for-4 performance with two doubles and scored twice. Karina Gaskins added an RBI double, with Mickey Winchell tallying a single. Jane Kronenberger stepped in off the bench to drive in a pair in the sixth inning.
How It Happened
Notre Dame didn’t waste any time getting on the board, scoring a run in the top of the first inning. Mitchell doubled to left center and moved up when the Oregon center fielder robbed Gaskins of a home run at the wall in left center. Orozco turned on an inside pitch for a single down the third baseline to bring in Mitchell and put the Irish up 1-0.
The Ducks rallied for five runs in the bottom of the second. With two outs, back-to-back walks started the rally and as Tehya Bird homered to left center for the first Oregon runs of the day. A bunt single flipped the lineup over for the lead-off hitter who tripled to left field to score another. An infield hit brought in the runner on third and Oregon took the 5-1 lead after two innings.
After the rain delay reset the momentum, the Irish rallied in the sixth. Mitchell led off with a double and Gaskins traded places with her. Orozco dropped a single to right to put runners on the corners. A ground ball to the right side put runners in scoring position for Kronenberger who pinch hit. She knocked the first pitch she saw through the right side to bring in two and cut the lead down to 5-4.
Kastor sit the Ducks down in order in the bottom of the sixth to set the stage in the seventh. The Irish couldn’t find the big hit it needed to tie the game, as the Irish dropped the opener of the tournament.
Up Next
The Irish will take on the loser of the Harvard Arkansas game that will take place later Friday evening at Bogle Park.