SOUTH BEND, Ind. – The University of Notre Dame softball team dropped the opening game of the series with the Pittsburgh Panthers, 8-5 Friday evening. The Fighting Irish’s defense gifted Pittsburgh a rally early as the offense couldn’t find the big hits it needed. Notre Dame falls to 19-9-1 on the season, and 4-5-1 in ACC action. Pittsburgh improves to 15-14 on the season.
Payton Tidd started in the circle. The graduate student worked 3.2 innings, allowing eight hits, six runs, three earned and struck out three. Shannon Becker was on in relief, throwing 3.1 innings, scattering three hits, two earned runs and struck out four.
The offense was led by a pair of two-hit efforts from Joley Mitchell and Tidd. Each hit a home run in the contest, and Mitchell added a run scored in the fourth inning. Carlli Kloss and Anna Holloway recorded the other hits for the Irish offense.
How It Happened
The Irish took the lead in the bottom of the first inning. Kloss led off with a single through the right side and stole second base. A ground ball and a sacrifice fly brought her in for the Irish to take a 1-0 lead.
Pittsburgh took advantage of a pair of Irish errors in the second. Along with four hits, the Panthers struck for three runs to take the lead a 3-1.
Notre Dame hit back-to-back home runs in the bottom of the second to tie the game. Mitchell led off the frame with a solo homer to center, followed by Tidd who also left the yard to center field.
Sarah Seamnas put Pittsburgh up by a run, hitting a solo home run of her own in the top of the third to give the lead back to the Panthers.
Pittsburgh again rallied in the fourth, scoring twice. A hit batter and a double put runners in scoring position. A two-out single brought the runners in the extend the lead to 6-3.
The Irish rallied in the fourth, as a walk and back-to-back singles loaded the bases. A sacrifice fly brought in one and put runners on the corners. Tidd stole second, and the Panthers’ attempt to get her hit the Irish batter in the batter’s box, allowing Mitchell to score and cut the lead to 6-5.
After two scoreless innings, Pitt added some insurance runs with a two-run homer in the top of the seventh.
Up Next
The Irish and Panthers are back in action on Sunday for a doubleheader. Saturday’s game has been moved due to potential inclement weather in the forecast for Saturday. Start time of the doubleheader is still to be determined. Be sure to check und.com or Irish softball social media for start time updates.