Notre Dame Fighting Irish - Official Athletics Website

Irish Host Ball State in Prime Time Matchup

SOUTH BEND, Ind. – The University of Notre Dame softball team is set to host the Ball State Cardinals in an 8 p.m. matchup at Melissa Cook Stadium with the action set to air on the ACC Network. The Fighting Irish enter the weekend with a 20-10-1 overall mark and are 5-0 in midweek competition this season. Ball State enters at 16-16, having dropped three-straight to Ohio over the weekend.

The Irish enter the weekend winning its last game in five innings against Pittsburgh. In the last 13 games, Notre Dame has gone 9-3-1, with six of those wins coming via the mercy rule. In midweek competition this season, the Irish have tallied wins over Elon, UNCG, East Carolina, Miami (Ohio) and IUPUI.

Carlli Kloss and Joley Mitchell lead the Irish offense, each hitting for a .371 average. Kloss leads the team with 12 doubles and 28 runs scored, while adding three home runs and five stolen bases. Mitchell owns six home runs and 25 RBI with a team-best seven stolen bases. The tandem of Lexi Orozco and Karina Gaskins each have hit 10 home runs on the year. Orozco leads the team with 30 runs driven in.

In the circle, Payton Tidd has been the work horse, throwing a team-high 93.1 innings with 78 strikeouts and a 3.00 ERA. Micaela Kastor adds a 1.98 ERA in 46.0 innings. She’s struck out 42 and holds opponents to a .216 average against. Shannon Becker earned the win in a complete game effort her last time out. This season she has 19 appearances, thrown 60.2 innings and struck out 48.

The Cardinals enter having dropped all three games at Ohio over the weekend. Previous to that, Ball State took a midweek series from Northern Illinois and swept Central Michigan.

As a team, Ball State hits for a .295 average, led by Haley Wynn’s .421 mark. Wynn adds 16 extra-base hits and 23 RBI. She’s second on the team with six home runs and has a .521 on-base percentage. Amaia Daniel adds a .408 average with seven doubles and a pair of home runs. McKayla Timmons leads the team with 30 RBI and seven home runs. She adds 17 runs scored with five doubles and a triple.

The Cardinal pitching staff owns a 4.26 ERA, led by Angelina Russo’s 2.80. Russo has worked 80.0 innings in 19 appearances, owning a 7-6 record. She’s limited opponents to a .226 average against and leads the team with 53 strikeouts. Francys King has appeared in 12 games with six starts. She’s throw in 41.2 innings, striking out 17 hitters. Brielle Murphy adds a 5.29 ERA in 39.2 innings