March 31, 2018
by Tony Jones
BLACKSBURG, Va. – A pair of errors and a second-inning solo home run is all that separated Virginia Tech and the University of Notre Dame softball team on Friday night. Despite out-hitting the host Hokies, Notre Dame dropped a 2-1 decision to open a conference series at Tech Softball Park.
How It Happened
A single and two Notre Dame (21-12, 5-4 ACC) errors gave Virginia Tech (13-18, 2-7 ACC) a 1-0 lead after the bottom of the first inning. Alexis Holloway (13-8) notched an inning-ending strikeout to close the first.
After limiting the Hokies offense through three innings, Notre Dame managed infield singles from Ali Wester and Morgan Reed in the top of the fourth. A groundout to second base ended the Irish surge.
Notre Dame began a rally in the top of the seventh after Holloway shut Virginia Tech down over the final four frames to limit the deficit to a 2-0 lead. Reed led off with a single, and came around to score later in the frame on an MK Bonamy RBI rip up the middle to cut the deficit to 2-1. A ground ball to third base ended the game.
Up Next
Notre Dame and Virginia Tech conclude a three-game Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) series with a doubleheader on Saturday at Noon (ET) in Blacksburg, Virginia.
–ND–
Tony Jones, athletics communications assistant director at the University of Notre Dame, has been part of the Fighting Irish athletics communications team since 2012 and coordinates all media efforts for the Notre Dame softball, men’s soccer and swimming and diving programs. A native of Jamestown, New York, Jones is a 2011 graduate of St. Bonaventure University, and prior to arriving at Notre Dame held positions at the University of Louisiana Monroe and with the National Football League’s Buffalo Bills.