DURHAM, N.C. — Notre Dame finished off the series with Duke at 2-1, dropping the final game to the Blue Devils, 2-6. Alexis Holloway shouldered the loss to go 7-4 on the season, and the Irish gave up just two earned runs.
HOW IT HAPPENED – KEY INNINGS
FIRST
Katie Marino singled to lead off for the Irish, advancing to second on a Duke passed ball. Emma Clark stepped up to the plate and hit one at the pitcher, who was trapped in a decision between runners and unable to get the ball to first to catch Clark. On an Abby Sweet fly ball, both advanced a base.
Leea Hanks trapped Duke in an error to advance Clark and score Marino. After the final two outs, the score stood at 1-0.
SECOND
With Holloway on the mound, Duke singled with the subsequent runner walked. Rachel Crabtree hit a sac bunt to advance both runners. Caught in a fielder’s choice, Duke scored their first run, scoring another in a single. Holloway trapped the last out to limit the damage, ending the inning at 1-2.
THIRD
Payton Tidd entered in the third to pitch for the Irish. After a Notre Dame error, Duke put a runner on second, scoring on a double. Tidd responded with a strikeout (swinging), before a single scored another run. Due to a double, a third run scored before the inning ended with Duke up 5-1, with all three runs unearned.
FIFTH
After Morgan Ryan entered at pitcher in the fourth, she continued into the fifth, striking out the first batter. A single, error and groundout put a Duke runner on third. A subsequent single scored the runner (unearned) to put Duke up 6-1.
SEVENTH
In the final inning, Anna Grace Wagner led off as a pinch hitter, and came up clutch with a single. After two outs, Wagner stole second, advancing to third on a Clark single. Sweet singled to advance Clark and score Wagner, putting the score at 2-6. Hanks singled to load the bases with two outs, but a swinging strikeout ended the game.
The Irish surrendered just two earned runs on the day in the loss, as three pitchers saw playing time for Notre Dame and Holloway re-entered in the sixth. With an overall win in the series, the Irish finish the weekend at 12-6 on the season and 2-1 in the ACC.
UP NEXT
The Irish travel to NC State for a Saturday-Sunday three game series, beginning with a double-header on Saturday at 1 p.m. Notre Dame will take on the Wolfpack Sunday at Noon, and will then travel to California for the Cal Poly Tournament March 12-15, taking on Cal Poly, Santa Clara and Saint Mary’s.
Keep up with @NDSoftball on Twitter for updates.