BOSTON – The University of Notre Dame softball team swept the Saturday night twinbill against the Boston College Eagles Saturday night at the Harrington Athletics Village. The Fighting Irish homered in key points in both games to earn take the series from the Eagles. Notre Dame improves to 29-13-1 on the season, and 11-9-1 in league action.
Micaela Kastor started in the circle and gave the Irish what they needed to even the series. The freshman worked into the seventh inning, having shut out the Eagles through the first six. She allowed a couple hits in the seventh and finished the day allowing five hits, two earned runs and struck out eight to earn her seventh win of the season. Shannon Becker came on with the bases loaded in the seventh to earn the save. Becker recorded all three outs in the final frame, allowing one walk and a strikeout to earn her second save of the season.
The Irish offense had six hits in game one, by six different hitters. Lexi Orozco’s was the loudest as her grand slam in the fifth inning proved to be the difference. Karina Gaskins finished 1-for-2 with an RBI and drew two walks in game one. Joley Mitchell, Leea Hanks, Anna Holloway and Miranda Johnson each tallied a hit in the victory.
Payton Tidd started in the circle in the nightcap. The graduate student threw her 10th complete game of the season, allowing nine hits, three runs, two earned and struck out seven.
The offense again had seven hits by seven different contributors. Mitchell’s hit was the loudest with a go-ahead three-run homer in the top of the seventh inning. Carlli Kloss, Gaskins, Orozco, Jane Kronenberger and Brooke Marquez each tallied base hits in the nightcap.
How It Happened – Game One
After a scoreless four innings, the Irish got on the board in the fifth. A lead-off single from Johnson started the rally before a walk, and a fielder’s choice on a sacrifice bunt loaded the bases. Gaskins drew a walk to bring in the first run of the game before Orozco hit her 13th homer of the season to go up 5-0.
Boston College didn’t threaten until the bottom of the seventh inning. The first four Eagle hitters of the inning all connected for singles, bringing in a run as BC went station to station. After a pitching change, Becker got a pop up to third, and allowed another run. With one out, she struck out a pinch hitter on a change up on the outer half, before getting a ground ball to third to retire the side and preserve the win.
How It Happened – Game Two
The Eagles were first on the board in the nightcap. The rally started with a one-out double, and back-to-back singles brought her in as BC took the 1-0 lead in the first.
Notre Dame rallied for three runs in the top of the third inning. Kloss led off with a single and stole second. Gaskins brought her in with a double to the wall in right center before scoring on a two-base error from Orozco. Hanks brought in the third run of the inning with a single up the middle to extend the lead to 3-1.
Boston College scored solo runs in the bottom of the fifth and sixth innings to tie the game headed into the final frame.
In the seventh, Marquez led off the frame with a double and was pinch ran for by Emily Tran. A wild pitch on a Winchell walk put runners on the corners for Mitchell. Mitchell drove the 1-1 pitch over the wall in right center to put the Irish up 6-3.
Tidd retired the Eagles in order in the seventh to preserve the win and help the Irish take the series.
Up Next
The Irish are back in action next Friday at Melissa Cook Stadium as they host the top contender in the ACC, the Florida State Seminoles in a three-game conference series.