Tidd shines in 11-1 win over BYU with three-run homer.
CATHEDRAL CITY, Calif. — RV Notre Dame split the first day of the Mary Nutter Classic, rebounding from a 3-2 loss to San Diego State to run-rule BYU in an 11-1 victory (five innings).
Payton Tidd (2-1) notched a win in the BYU contest, also slamming a three-run homer in the game, the first home run of the sophomore pitcher’s career. Alexis Holloway (5-2) shouldered the loss to San Diego State. Katie Marino and Abby Sweet also fired home runs on the day.
HOW IT HAPPENED – KEY INNINGS
Game One: San Diego State
FIRST
The Aztecs got off to a quick start due to Irish miscues, as three Notre Dame errors resulted in two runs scored for San Diego State. Answering quickly, Katie Marino hit a solo home run (third HR of season/23rd of career) to lead off for the Irish, making the score 1-2 after the first.
BOTTOM THIRD
After Brooke Marquez singled, Marino was walked, advancing Marquez to second. After Sarah Genz struck out, Sweet singled to score Maruqez before the end of the inning to even the score, 2-2.
TOP FOURTH
After the San Diego State runner reached on an error and stole second, Holloway posted two more strikeouts. After another Irish error to load the bases, a single drove in another run before Holloway struck out the next batter to end the inning at 2-3.
TOP SIXTH
Holloway fired her sixth and seventh strikeouts before Tidd entered in relief, striking out the first batter she faced to end the inning.
FINAL
Notre Dame held the Aztecs to just the three runs, and ended the game with five errors.
Game Two: BYU
FIRST
Following suit of Marino’s leadoff homer in Game One, Sweet hit a solo homer (second HR of season/ninth of career) in the second slot of the lineup to put the Irish in the lead, 1-0. On defense, a Marquez-Marino-Quinn Biggio double play ended the inning.
TOP THIRD
Biggio led off with a double. After Tidd popped up, Marino walked, her third walk of the day (first of the game). Later, Sweet hit a double to score Biggio and Marino, and attempted to advance on the throw, but was called out at third to end the inning at 3-0.
TOP FOURTH
Leea Hanks led off the fourth for the Irish with a single, stealing second. After Joley Mitchell and Marquez popped up, Chelsea Purcell reached base on a BYU error, and Hanks advanced to third. Biggio again singled, driving in Hanks. With Biggio on first and Purcell on second, Tidd stepped up to the plate and hit a three-run homer, the first home run of her career. The Irish ended the inning up 7-0.
TOP FIFTH
After Alexis Bazos singled, Sweet reached on a fielder’s choice that put Bazos out at second. Sweet stole second during Hanks’ at-bat, and advanced to third on a wild pitch before Mitchell was walked. Mitchell then stole second. Marquez forced a BYU error, which allowed Sweet and Mitchell to score.
After Purcell was hit by a pitch, advancing Marquez to second, Biggio stepped up again and doubled, driving in Marquez. Tidd notched a single to score Purcell, and Marino reached base on another BYU error, as Tidd advanced to second and Biggio to third. The inning ended on a putout at third on a fielder’s choice with the Irish up 11-0.
FINAL
BYU managed to get on the board in the fifth, scoring one run as Morgan Ryan entered at pitcher to close the game. Tidd earned the win, her second of the season, posting five strikeouts and batting for two hits (including the home run) and four RBI.
Irish pitchers gave up no earned runs through both games and totaled 13 strikeouts.
UP NEXT
On the second day of the Mary Nutter Classic, the Irish will take on Seattle (12:30 p.m. PT/3:30 p.m. ET) and No. 15/17 Oregon (3 p.m. PT/6 p.m. PT) on the Pawtucket field at the Big League Dreams complex.
Games will be broadcast via FloSoftball (bit.ly/2P55ObZ), and live stats will be available at und.com/mediastats. Follow along on Twitter with @NDSoftball for updates.